Independent TD Michael Lowry has been accused in the Dail of allegedly burning documents that may have been of interest to the Moriarty Tribunal.
In the Dail on Thursday, Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty issued a broad attack against Mr Lowry, saying the independent TD was behind a “grubby deal” to form a new coalition Government.
He went on to say that Mr Lowry, who was found to have behaved in a way that was “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking” by the tribunal, had been welcomed back “into the bosom of Government” by Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
Mr Martin previously characterised Mr Lowry as a “rogue politician”.
Mr Doherty said Mr Lowry should use his speaking time to “come clean” and “set the record straight about his involvement” in businessman Denis O’Brien’s bid to purchase property related to Doncaster Rovers.
He alleged that a false narrative had been created and fake documents had been provided to the tribunal.
Mr Doherty further alleged that original documents relating to the deal had been burned.
He said Mr Lowry “swore he had no part in and wasn’t to benefit from” the Doncaster deal.
Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty (Liam McBurney/PA)
Mr Doherty added: “This was totally false. Let me put some new information onto the record.
“Deputy Lowry had 57 meetings in relation to the Doncaster deal – including here in the houses of the Oireachtas – with the organiser of the project and sports representatives, and in the boardroom of Doncaster football club itself.
“Will he explain also in September and October 2001, why his accountant paid the person putting the Doncaster Deal together two bank drafts of £32,500 and £25,000 for his fee?
“And when he is doing it maybe he will explain why these payments made from an account in Gibraltar were never disclosed to the tribunal.
“Or will he use his time to explain to this house and the public why he, on March 15 2001, met with other key individuals in these deals in Dublin.
“The outcome of that meeting was the creation of a false narrative and fake new documents, fake documents that were given to the tribunal.
“Maybe he should explain why he and two others went to a rural farm, in August 2002, to burn the original documents pertaining to these deals.
“He did so to make sure that the truth would never see the light of day. This information comes directly from one of the other men present.
“Micheal Martin, you called on the then taoiseach Enda Kenny, to reopen the investigation into Michael Lowry. You did this on the back of information given to me by this same individual.
“How do you square the circle that far from looking for him to be investigated you allow him to play the role of king maker?
“You are handing him substantial influence over this incoming government.
“Maybe the next time you sit down with Michael Lowry to discuss your grubby programme for government you can ask him why he burned those documents and why his accountant made these secret payments. The public deserves better.”
Mr Lowry has been contacted for comment.