Gardaí have found no evidence of a security breach at the Moriarty tribunal in the weeks leading up to the publication of its report.
Garda technical experts from the force’s crime and security branch had been investigating whether telephones at the tribunal’s offices in Dublin Castle were tapped.
The investigation followed concerns from within the inquiry that private information, in particular the content of phone calls by Mr Justice Michael Moriarty, may have been accessed by a third party.
But the Garda said today its investigating officers had found no evidence of interference with the telephone system at the offices. “In light of recent media reports about security at the offices of the Moriarty tribunal, it should be noted that An Garda Síochána regularly carries out security checks in State offices and buildings,” it said in a statement.
“These can be conducted as routine or on request and cover both physical and technical infrastructure,” it added.
Michael Lowry said he will make a statement on tomorrow's Dáil debate on the tribunal's findings and the alleged phone tapping on the plinth of Leinster House later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the group which was runner-up to Denis O’Brien’s consortium in the competition for the second mobile phone licence has called on the State to refund the expenses of all the unsuccessful bidders. Persona, which is suing the State over the licence award, said yesterday the tribunal report vindicated its claims that the process was not conducted in a fair and equitable manner.
Persona chairman Tony Boyle said his consortium raised its concerns with politicians but he claimed they were not listened to.
The tribunal found Mr O’Brien made payments to the then minister for communications Michael Lowry, who “secured the winning” of the licence to Esat. Both men have rejected its findings.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said yesterday it was a matter for Mr Lowry to decide whether or not to resign as a TD. “What he does with his political future now is up to him and the people of north Tipperary.”
Mr Coveney said he accepted the conclusions of the tribunal report. It would be unacceptable for Mr Lowry not to take part in this debate, he told RTÉ Radio.
Yesterday, Mr Boyle said Persona sought an explanation from the then minister for communications Michael Lowry for the award to Esat but he “provided no answers”. Mr Boyle said representations were made to the then taoiseach John Bruton but he said he was happy with the decision.
Retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness expressed her support for Mr Justice Michael Moriarty, following criticism of him, the judiciary and members of the legal profession by Mr O’Brien. “I’ve always had the greatest respect for Mr Justice Moriarty, and am very familiar with his judicial work over the years,” she said.
Referring to recommendations made by Mr Justice Moriarty in his 2006 report, which included financial regulatory changes, Professor Niamh Brennan, director of the Centre for Corporate Governance, UCD said: “If only his recommendations were taken more seriously at that time, maybe the country wouldn’t be in the state it is in at the moment”.