INDEPENDENT TD MICHAEL Lowry has said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has decided not to pursue any prosecution against him over the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal – the payments to politicians inquiry.

In January 2025, a file was sent to the DPP relating to the findings of the tribunal, which were issued in 2011.

In a statement published on Facebook tonight, Lowry said: “I welcome the formal decision of the DPP that there will be no charges brought against me arising from the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.”

The DPP has been contacted for comment. 

Lowry criticised the tribunal report in his statement and thanked his family and friends for their “encouragement and kindness” during “many difficult years”.

The tribunal was established in 1997 to examine payments to former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and to Lowry, a former Fine Gael Minister for Communications and current Independent TD for Tipperary North. Lowry is a member of the Regional Independents Group which is supporting the government.

Lowry was interviewed by gardaí investigating matters related to the tribunal in August 2024, as first reported by The Journal.

Lowry said tonight: “I fully cooperated with the gardaí and voluntarily met them and answered all questions.”

“After the gardaí finished their extensive investigation, a file was sent to the DPP in late 2024. Now 15 months later, the DPP, the State’s independent prosecutor, having fully and carefully reviewed the file, has issued a direction that there will be no prosecution of me.”

Officially called the Tribunal of Inquiry into certain Payments to Politicians and Related Matters, the Moriarty Tribunal took 14 years to find that Lowry had an “insidious and pervasive” influence over the awarding of Ireland’s second mobile phone licence in the 1990s to Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone company.

The 2011 Tribunal report found that it was “beyond doubt” that Lowry gave “substantive information” to O’Brien and that this data was “of significant value and assistance to him in securing the licence”.

It also found that O’Brien had made two secret payments to Lowry in 1996 and 1999 which amounted to £500,000 and supported a loan of £420,000 given to Lowry in 1999.

Denis O’Brien has rejected the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal and claimed it was based on mere “opinions” and was not findings of evidence, fact or law.

In his statement this evening, Lowry described the findings of the Moriarty Report as “unfair and unfounded opinions”.

“There are no charges being brought against me arising from the award of the licence; no charge of corruption, or misfeasance in public office; no charges of personal gain or bribery on my part,” he said.

“I want to thank my family and friends for their resolute, encouragement and kindness throughout many difficult years. I will be forever grateful to the people of Tipperary and North Kilkenny for the unwavering faith and trust they placed in me.”