The former Esat Telecom chairman Mr Denis O’Brien told theMoriarty tribunal today a $50,000 donation to Fine Gael in 1995 was made by Telenor without his prompting.
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Mr Denis O'Brien
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Mr O’Brien claimedTelenor, a major shareholder in Esat Digifone, "did an absolute solo run in going to Fine Gael" and making the donation.
However, Telenor have saidthey were asked to make the donation on behalf of Esat Digifone as Mr O’Brien had made political donations in the past that had caused "fuss in the media".
The former chairman of Telenor, Mr Arve Johannsen,told the tribunallast month the money was routed through an offshore account belonging to the late David Austin, who invoiced them for consultancy services.
Mr O'Brien also disputed evidence given by the former general secretary of Fine Gael, Mr Jim Miley.
Mr Mileysaid in a statement former party fundraiser David Austin told himMr O'Brien had agreed to make a donation to the party, but he wanted it made via Telenor in order to ensure confidentiality. Mr O'Brien denied saying that.
Mr O'Brien also disputedthe evidence of Mr John Fortune, a former director of Esat Digifone.
Mr Fortune said in evidence that when he told Mr O’Brien Telenor were seeking confirmation from Fine Gael the $50,000 was made, he replied that as Esat Digifone had made the donation, they should be the ones to seek confirmation.
Mr O’Brien saidhe had no recollection of making those remarks.
The tribunal also heardMr O’Brien feltit would have been inappropriate for Esat Digifone to take back the donation from Fine Gael who had tried to return it.
"People may have thought that something was inappropriate with the original donation if we took it back," he told Mr John Coughlan SC for the tribunal.
"If we were asked to make a donation, why would we want it back," he added.
When asked why Esat Digifone reimbursed Telenor the $50,000 at a shareholders meeting, Mr O’Brien replied: "We were pushed into it."
He will continue giving evidence this afternoon.