Judge praises O'Brien role in Games

The Moriarty tribunal chairman said that if he finds that Mr Denis O'Brien won the State's second mobile phone licence "fair and square", then he would subscribe to that form of report "as gladly as any other".

Mr Justice Moriarty made his comments before Mr O'Brien began to give evidence to the tribunal concerning the 1995 competition that was won by Esat Digifone. The chairman also took the opportunity to praise Mr O'Brien for his part in the Special Olympics.

The chairman said it was no secret that in the past relations between Mr O'Brien and his advisers, on one hand, and the tribunal on the other, had had their "low moments".

He said he wanted to welcome Mr O'Brien to the tribunal "to hear your side of these important events" and that he would give "close attention" to Mr O'Brien's evidence. He said he would base his report on the evidence heard in public from witnesses. He said there were matters that had to be inquired into and it was likely Mr O'Brien's evidence would take "some days".

He said that if matters arose during the evidence that Mr O'Brien wished to reflect on, he should tell the chairman who could defer hearing the final answer.

"Last thing and I say it not as a vacuous or cosmetic formula, I do note that since we last met in this place that you have been very significantly involved in the very commendable and great success of the Special Olympics and I think it would be churlish of me not to acknowledge and commend you for that success and your own not inconsiderable role in it."

Mr Justice Moriarty then invited Mr O'Brien to take off his jacket if he so wished.