Michael Lowry says dispute over Moriarty Tribunal costs now settled

By David Young, PA

Independent TD Michael Lowry has said a long-running dispute over the award of his legal costs related to the Moriarty Tribunal has been resolved.

In 2018, Mr Lowry successfully appealed against the tribunal’s original decision to not award him two thirds of the €2.87 million costs of his legal representation.

The tribunal was established in 1997 to examine issues related to the financial affairs of Mr Lowry and former taoiseach Charles Haughey.

It founded its original decision to only award Mr Lowry one third of his costs on what it ruled as his failure to fully co-operate with the work of the tribunal.

The Court of Appeal found a lack of transparency in that decision and referred the issue of costs back to the tribunal for reconsideration.

In a statement on Saturday, the Independent TD for Tipperary said the matter had now been resolved.

He criticised the delay in settling the issue, but said he was pleased with the final resolution.

“I am pleased to state that the long-running issue in relation to the payment of costs amounting to €2,869,338.09 arising from representation on my behalf before the Moriarty Tribunal, has finally been resolved,” he said.

“This tribunal was established in September 1997 – 26 years ago.

“This has happened after I successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal and overturned the original decision of the Tribunal in respect of costs in March 2018.”

Mr Lowry said he would not be making any further comment on the subject.