Two-month Moriarty hearings delay

The Moriarty tribunal, which was to resume hearings today, is now not to resume hearings until September 15th.

The announcement on its website that the tribunal was to resume today was changed and the new date inserted. No explanation was given.

The tribunal last sat on April 2nd, when it adjourned for the Easter break. At that time it was felt the tribunal's inquiry into the 1995 mobile phone licence competition could be completed by the end of this month.

It has been expected that sittings beginning today might include evidence concerning property transactions in England in which former minister, Mr Michael Lowry, was involved.

It is also expected that the tribunal might hear evidence about a separate transaction involving Mr Denis O'Brien and Doncaster Rovers football stadium in England.

Mr O'Brien has told the tribunal that this transaction had nothing to do with Mr Lowry. The tribunal has been inquiring into the 1995 competition for a second mobile phone licence since November 2001. A large proportion of that time has been spent in what the tribunal calls its private phase of inquiry.

It has been thought that the competition inquiry was nearing completion and why the tribunal would seek to introduce evidence concerning what it calls its money trail investigations at this stage, just prior to the summer break, is not clear.

When the tribunal rose for the Easter break it was expected that it would resume again shortly.