Tag Archives: Denis O’Brien

denisAsk a monk.

A shortlist of 12 bidders was published in April but yesterday the decision to postpone the announcement of the winners was apparently made after a member of the parliament’s telecoms committee submitted an emergency statement urging parliamentarians to favour local joint ventures in the selection of telecoms operators.

Digicel is the lead partner in a bid that includes a fund associated with the family of the famous financier George Soros, and a Singapore-listed property and general services group associated with one of the most respected business figures in Burma, Serge Pun.

“In some cases, we need to prioritise national interests,” Phyo Min Thein,from the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, told the Irrawaddy newspaper.

 

Last minute development in Denis O’Brien mobile phone licence bid (Irish Times)

Previously: On The Road To Mandalay

Denis2 DenisMichaelDCelebrating World Press Freedom Day

A possibly squirming Squee, next to Denis O’Brien, presents this year’s 2013 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk award to Biram Dah Abeid, a Mauritanian human rights defender and president of the anti-slavery NGO Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania, in Dublin City Hall this morning.

Denis O’Brien is on the board of trustees at Front Line Defenders. And, you know, does other stuff.

Pics: Front Line Defenders and David Joyce

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The court heard the case arose over the purchase, in 2000, by Mr O’Brien of 6 Raglan Road, Ballsbridge (above)… The seven-bedroom detached period house was bought through a company, Partenay Ltd.

In view of that, the Revenue argued the Appeals commissioner should have gone on to decide whether his personal and economic interests were closer to Ireland than to Portugal, thereby making him tax liable him in accordance with the Ireland/Portugal Double Taxation Convention
…The court heard Mr O’Brien employed a number of architectural and building experts to show the Raglan Road house was not habitable at the time and needed extensive renovation not completed until 2002. A builder and an engineer said parts of the house were dangerous.

…The previous owners of Raglan Road, the Whites, disputed evidence from Mr O’Brien’s architectural and engineering experts that the house was not in a good condition. As far as they were concerned, the house was extremely comfortable and not deficient in any way…

 

 

Denis O’Brien takes on Revenue over €57m (Irish Times)

(Google)

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Conor Ryan, in today’s Irish Examiner, reports that Denis O’Brien has secured a buyer for the former Doncaster Rovers soccer stadium and that a sale was agreed with British builders Barratts on March 22.

Mr Ryan writes:

Mr O’Brien took control of the aging stadium for £4.3m in 1998. It is reported to be selling for £10m (€11.7m). Mr O’Brien disputed the tribunal’s findings that his original investment was set up to benefit former minister Michael Lowry.

In 2002, Mr O’Brien was forced into mediation talks with the Northern Ireland-based land agent Kevin Phelan over management fees arising from the plan.”

“The tribunal said Mr Phelan got £150,000 from Mr O’Brien to make sure he did not undermine a false version of events which distanced Mr Lowry from the project.”

…

“Despite allegations, the tribunal could not find evidence linking Mr Lowry to the Doncaster deal. It cited one solicitor’s letter, written on behalf of Mr Phelan, which said 40% of the profits resulting from the sale of Doncaster would be split between him and Mr Lowry. This was disputed by Mr Lowry and Mr O’Brien.

“The tribunal said its lack of direct evidence on Doncaster had to be viewed in the context of the level of falsehoods, concealment, and suppression which emerged.  And it said ultimately it believed the purchase of Doncaster was intended to benefit Mr Lowry.

 

O’Brien offloads former Doncaster soccer grounds (Conor Ryan, Irish Examiner)

Previously: The Thicks Plotten

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The Lowry tapes.

They’re very sweary

Michael Lowry: “Anybody who was legally acting for [Denis] O’Brien or me or what have you, were forced to deliver whatever they have, right. Now, that meant that [Christopher] Vaughan’s files had to be sent over. And Vaughan had fucking comments on the files. That means that [Carter Ruck solicitor] Ruth Collard’s comments came over and they were on the files.

Now, some of the comments that are on the file are attributed to you. In other words, it’s Vaughan saying that you said this or you said that. Correct. Now what the High Court case is about at the moment is that O’Brien is trying to stop them, eh, files — or any references to them — being put into the tribunal, because they are not coming over as witnesses. That’s what the High Court case is about.

So — either O’Brien’s side or us — there’s nobody trying to fucking piss on you. In fact, Denis, myself, Baldy — anybody will be going in — will be saying that you were paid 150, that you were fucking entitled to it, and that you got it, end of story.”

 

Michael Lowry taped in September 2004 speaking to Denis O’Brien’s land agent Kevin Phelan.

Baldy, anyone?

Earlier: Michael Lowry Writes

 

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Another march?

A terse exchange of views in the letters page of the Irish Times?

The 2013 Lockout?

YOU decide.

From The National Union of Journalists Ireland (Independent Chapel)

Colleagues,

We have been contacted by numerous members of the chapel concerned about the piece in this morning’s Irish Times regarding a proposed new “editorial charter”.

The concerns about these proposals include:
Restriction of ability to report news without fear or favour.
Possible threat to indemnity for reporters in libel cases, i.e. a journalist would be “on their own” in a libel case if the journalist has written “any sustained or repeated adversarial material”. Restriction on editorial freedom. Press Council and NUJ codes of conduct are already in place.

On the face of it such a charter would represent a serious infringement on editorial independence and a major change to the house agreement.

The chapel officers have not been given, nor have they seen, any editorial charter. We are seeking a meeting with management and a copy of the document.

The NUJ is committed to upholding editorial independence and the principles of the NUJ code. We will be in touch with members when we have further information.

Independent Chapel Committee.

Previously: Mwahahaha

Thanks anon

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Etc.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The Irish Times reports:

“Independent News & Media has drawn up a new editorial charter that requires journalists to get the written approval of the managing editor before writing any “sustained or repeated adversarial material concerning individuals or organisations”

“Clause seven deals with “fairness” – “Journalists will strive to be fair in affording individuals or organisations the right of pre-publication response,” it states. “A decision not to afford such a right of response will only be taken with the written approval of the editor or designated editorial executive.”

“It then adds: “Sustained or repeated adversarial editorial material concerning individuals or organisations will only be maintained on the basis of justification in the public interest with the written approval of the managing editor.”

 

How do like them apples?

INM, controlled by Denis O’Brien (top) publishes the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday World, The Star and the Metro Herald. It also owns 13 weekly regional papers.

New INM charter restricts ‘adversarial material’ (Ciarán Hancock, Irish Times)

Previously: INM Write-Down Ahoy

The Osborne Ultimatum

Denis O’Brien: Dividends, Debt And Paying Back Anglo

So, You Know That Denis O’Brien Story…

Like A Spoilt Teenager

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)