Haughey's links to CRH to be investigated at later stage

The chairman of the tribunal, Mr Justice Moriarty, has indicated that it will investigate possible links between Mr Charles J. Haughey and Cement Roadstone Holdings when it resumes its hearings on the former Taoiseach.

The sole member said the tribunal would return to certain matters "by way of acts or decisions" that pertained to Mr Haughey once the phase of hearings on Mr Michael Lowry - due to recommence in October - and some "loose ends" have concluded.

Mr Justice Moriarty said, in taking up this aspect, he would have regard "to the age, state of health, and time-frame of the tribunal in the context of Mr Haughey's circumstances".

With this in mind, he said, "I am prepared to accept that I should not take the approach of disqualifying myself simpliciter from dealing with any matter involving Cement Roadstone Holdings because of my previous and declared interest in that company."

He said he was saying this on consideration of a number of issues, including "the scarcely desirable course of yet another tribunal of inquiry being sought to be established".

He also cited the fact that, in a small country such as this, it was hard for any chairman to be entirely unacquainted with any person or entity which might crop up in the course of sittings.

In June 1999, Mr Justice Moriarty disclosed that he had formerly held a £500,000 shareholding in CRH.

This precluded his inquiring into any matter concerning either the company or the controversial sale of State land at Glen Ding Wood, Co Wicklow, to a subsidiary of CRH in 1991, he said.