Desmond sent letters to inquiry chairman

Direct personal communication by Mr Dermot Desmond with the tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Moriarty, was by way of letters and not over the telephone, the tribunal was told.

Mr Bill Shipsey SC, for Mr Desmond, raised the matter of comments which had been made at the tribunal last week when Mr Justice Moriarty revealed that there had been a number of direct personal contacts made by Mr Desmond with the chairman.

Mr Shipsey said there had been ill-informed media comment that the contact had been of a personal nature over the telephone and he wished to ask the chairman to confirm his understanding that the contact was in written form by way of letters.

Mr Justice Moriarty replied: "That is indeed the case, Mr Shipsey. Thank you for your appearance."

Last week the fact of the contact was revealed when Mr Shipsey supported a submission made by counsel for Telenor, Mr Eoin Fitzsimons SC, and which was critical of the approach the tribunal was taking in its inquiry into the second mobile phone licence competition.

Mr Shipsey said similar views had been expressed by his client, at which point Mr Justice Moriarty mentioned the direct communication from Mr Desmond.