Michael Lowry says no charges over Moriarty Tribunal findings

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Michael Lowry has said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has decided against bringing charges against him arising from the Moriarty Tribunal.

The Independent TD described the tribunal report as “flawed” and based on “conjecture, manipulation and speculation”.

The tribunal was established in September 1997 to examine payments to former taoiseach Charles Haughey and Lowry.

The tribunal’s final report was published in March 2011 and found that Lowry, a former Fine Gael TD, helped businessman Denis O’Brien secure the State’s second mobile phone licence in 1995.

In his statement on Facebook on Tuesday evening, Lowry said: “Its findings have allowed me to be subjected to repeated insults, smears and false allegations, with no legal remedy available to me.”

He added: “I fully co-operated with the gardaí and voluntarily met them and answered all questions.

“After the gardaí finished their extensive investigation, a file was sent to the DPP in late 2024.

“Now 15 months later, the DPP, the State’s Independent Prosecutor, having fully and carefully reviewed the file, has issued a direction that there will be no prosecution of me.”

In a statement, gardaí said: “We do not comment on named individuals or third party statements.

“The office of the DPP has directed no prosecution in respect of this matter.

“An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further.”

In his statement, Lowry thanked his family, friends and “the people of Tipperary and North Kilkenny for the unwavering faith and trust they placed in me”.

The DPP has been contacted for comment.