Mr Justice Moriarty today expressed his disappointment a bank executive from Irish Nationwide Building Society Isle Of Man Ltd had not been allowed to give evidence to the tribunal.
The tribunal is seeking evidence from Mr Carl Tully of the Irish Nationwide Isle of Man Ltd who was the bank executive who dealt with transactions involving former Fine Gael minister Mr Michael Lowry and former Fine Gael fundraiser the late David Austin.
The board of Irish Nationwide Isle of Man Ltd has refused to allow Mr Tully to give evidence to the tribunal.
Mr Lowry had previously told the tribunal he would not object to anyone from the Irish Nationwide Isle of Man Ltd giving evidence to the tribunal. The executors of Mr Austin’s estate have expressed the same sentiments.
Managing director of the Irish Nationwide Building Society in Ireland Mr Michael Fingleton told the tribunal the Irish Nationwide Building Society Isle Of Man Ltd was a completely independent company and while the "society" in Dublin wished the Isle of Man company would cooperate fully with the tribunal, it could not compel the company to do so.
When asked by counsel for the tribunal, Mr John Coughlan SC, why the Irish Nationwide Isle of Man Ltd would not cooperate, Mr Fingleton said the chairman of the Isle of Man bank, Mr Peter Crellan, would come to the tribunal to explain if asked to do so.
After questioning, Mr Justice Moriarty told Mr Fingleton to pass on his keen disappointment to the board in Isle of Man that it could not comply.
Mr Justice Moriarty adjourned the tribunal until September. Mr Aidan Phelan’s business partner, Ms Helen Malone, and Mr Lowry are expected to give evidence.