Letter suggested Lawlor did not control company

A letter was written to suggest that Mr Liam Lawlor did not control a Prague-based property investment following a request for information from that firm by the Mahon tribunal.

Mr Tony Seddon, Mr Lawlor's solicitor in London and Prague, wrote a letter on March 19th, 2001 saying that Mr Lawlor had a "profit-sharing" arrangement with the Czech firm Zatecka.

This firm had been set up by Mr Seddon at Mr Lawlor's request prior to his purchase of Czech property.

Counsel for the tribunal, Mr Des O'Neill SC, suggested to Mr Seddon that this letter was written to suggest that Mr Lawlor did not have control of Zatecka and it was partly owned by Mr Nicholas Morgan.

Mr Seddon replied that he could not remember why the letter was written. He said he was aware that Mr Lawlor was "having difficulties" with regard to the tribunal but said that information was in the public domain.

Mr O'Neill asked if Mr Seddon's recollection was now that he was never instructed by Mr Morgan even though he had said so in the letter.

Responding Mr Seddon said "that is my recollection now". And he agreed with Mr O'Neill when he observed that this letter was written in the context of tribunal requirements.