O'Brien snr was asked to take on Doncaster role

Businessman Denis O'Brien snr has told the tribunal he was asked by his son, telecoms entrepreneur Denis O'Brien, to become involved with the Doncaster Rovers Football Club project in the spring or summer of 2002.

He said he was asked to deal with just two issues concerning the project: a dispute over fees sought by Northern Ireland businessman, Kevin Phelan; and a dispute with the Doncaster vendors, Ken Richardson and Mark Weaver. That dispute was the subject of High Court proceedings then pending in London.

Mr O'Brien told John Coughlan SC, for the tribunal, that he took over these matters from accountant Aidan Phelan, a friend and colleague of his son, who wanted to devote more time to his own business affairs. He said the disputes had been going on for four years and were going nowhere.

He said he became acquainted with Michael Lowry's accountant, Denis O'Connor, "in this room" (where the tribunal is sitting). He had conversations with Mr O'Connor during recesses in the giving of evidence by his son.

He said that because Mr O'Connor had been involved in other English property transactions involving Kevin Phelan, he had asked him what Mr Phelan was like. "I found him very helpful," he said of Mr O'Connor.

However he said he was sure he had not asked Mr O'Connor to get involved in settling the dispute with Kevin Phelan. "I just asked him what type of man he was," Mr O'Brien said, adding that he was speaking from memory.

He said he had welcomed an offer from Mr O'Connor to help resolve the dispute with Mr Richardson and Mr Weaver and had authorised that a solicitor and an accountant in England, who were dealing with the case, should brief Mr O'Connor. However subsequently, after receiving advice from his English solicitor Ruth Collard, he had asked Mr O'Connor not to continue with the effort.

The dispute went to mediation in London and was resolved with a payment of £744,000 sterling. The vendors had been seeking £1.2 million. During the mediation, at a side meeting, the vendors had suggested that their company, Dinard Trading, "and its files" be bought by Westferry, the O'Brien family company through which the football club was owned, for £2.5 million. It was clear to him he was being blackmailed and he rejected the suggestion. He later complained to the London police.

Mr O'Brien said he was not clear what the dispute with Mr Phelan was about. He thought the figure being sought was "always £150,000" and this was the amount that was eventually paid.

He said he was a busy man and could not devote too much time to the Doncaster issue. He had his own business which manufactured and sold dietary supplements for performing horses. He was also chairman of PTA, one of the largest golfing businesses in Europe, and was involved in his son's "telephone activities".