Michael Lowry’s appeal against a ruling that the Moriarty Tribunal was right to only award him a third of his legal costs, is underway.
The Independent TD denies being uncooperative and claims the legal bill is so large, it amounts to a penalty that’s affected every aspect of his life.
The Moriarty tribunal was set up in 1997 to investigate alleged payments to Michael Lowry and the late former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.
In 2013, it decided to only award a third of costs to Mr. Lowry after finding the former Minister for Communications didn’t co-operate fully.
Following a legal action three years later, the High Court ruled that was the right decision and Mr. Lowry immediately indicated his intention to appeal.
Day one of what’s expected to be a two-day hearing began this morning.
His barrister Niamh Hyland described findings of non cooperation and of giving false and misleading statements against her client as “fundamentally and deeply flawed” and she said he was being denied his constitutional right to equality before the law given that Mr. Haughey was awarded full costs.
