Irish Probe: Ex-Minister Aided Tycoons For Profit

jerry
March 22, 2011 04:52 PM

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Irish Probe: Ex-Minister Aided Tycoons For Profit

A 14-year probe into Irish political corruption has found that a former government minister, Michael Lowry, peddled influence with two senior businessmen for personal gain.

Tuesday's 2,350-page report from Justice Michael Moriarty condemns Lowry's conduct as communications minister in the mid-1990s. It documents his lobbying on behalf of telecoms tycoon Denis O'Brien and department store baron Ben Dunne -- and documents their confidential payments to him.

Ireland launched the probe in 1997 after a leaked corporate report identified Ben Dunne as a secret benefactor for Lowry and former Prime Minister Charles Haughey.

It also examined Lowry's 1995 decision to award a telephone company license to O'Brien, helping him become one of Ireland's wealthiest men.

BusinessWeek