Hearing into Doncaster deal set to begin

The Moriarty tribunal is to begin hearings tomorrow into the £4 million purchase of the Doncaster Rovers football ground by Mr Denis O'Brien in 1998.

The tribunal is inquiring into the matter because the English solicitor involved in the purchase, Mr Christopher Vaughan, wrote a letter at the time to Mr Michael Lowry, in which he said he had not until then appreciated Mr Lowry's involvement in the deal.

Mr Vaughan has since told the tribunal, during private correspondence, that the letter was written in error. Mr O'Brien said in evidence that the Doncaster purchase was made on his behalf and involved no other party.

An opening statement from the tribunal is expected tomorrow, after which a number of witnesses are due to give evidence.

Hearings on the matter were expected last July, but were deferred for reasons that have not been made public. The tribunal has not sat since Easter.

Mr Vaughan has previously declined to come to Dublin to give evidence on the Doncaster deal and other deals he was involved with. It is believed he may have travelled to Dublin last week to meet members of the tribunal team, but whether he is to give evidence is not clear.

As well as the Doncaster deal Mr Vaughan was involved in a number of property transactions about the same period and in which Mr Lowry did have an interest. All of the transactions involved Mr O'Brien's associate, accountant Mr Aidan Phelan.

Mr Phelan is expected to give evidence over the coming days. When the existence of the Doncaster letter was disclosed by The Irish Times in January last year, Mr Phelan said it could be demonstrated clearly that Mr Lowry had no involvement in the deal.

The Doncaster stadium was bought from a company owned by an English businessman, Mr Ken Richardson. Mr Richardson was convicted in 1999 of conspiring in 1995 to have the stadium burned down.

A dispute between Mr O'Brien's side and Mr Richardson over a final payment arising from the Doncaster deal went to mediation and, during hearings, the existence of the letter from Mr Vaughan was raised.

The introduction of the issue of the letter during mediation hearings has since been reported to London police. The mediation ended with a settlement paid to Mr Richardson and his associates.

After hearings into the Doncaster issue, the tribunal is expected to resume its inquiries into the licence competition.