The Moriarty tribunal, which was due to hear evidence from Mr Denis O'Brien yesterday, was adjourned when it was informed that Mr O'Brien had gone to London after his wife, Catherine, was admitted to hospital for a possible emergency Caesarean section.
Mr Justice Moriarty said he would adjourn "reluctantly" until Tuesday morning, barring any "exceptional contingency".
On Thursday, the tribunal saw documents referring to the possibility that Mr O'Brien, the former Esat Digifone chairman, had made payments of £100,000 to Mr Michael Lowry and an unidentified person.
It heard that Mr O'Brien would dismiss these suggestions and describe remarks he made about such payments as "bravado". Mr Eoin McGonagle SC, for Mr O'Brien, said his client went to London on Thursday evening due to a change in the condition of his wife, who was due to give birth within 10 days.
Mr O'Brien "regretted very much" that he could not attend the tribunal.
Mr Justice Moriarty said he was not saying that family commitments had to yield, "even in the case of serious litigation or tribunal matters", and he would not make any findings or observations at this time.
"But it certainly is, to say the least, extremely unfortunate from the point of view of this issue being proposed to be proceeded with on foot of Mr O'Brien's evidence today that the matter cannot be embarked upon today," he said.
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