Denis O'Brien
Esat Digifone was best applicant
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1.00 News: Gareth O'Connor reports live from Dublin Castle on the businessman's opening statement at the inquiry
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6.01 News: Gareth O'Conner reports on entrepreneur Denis O'Brien's appearance at the Moriarty Tribunal today over the award of a mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone
Businessman Denis O'Brien has told the Moriarty Tribunal that there was no luck involved in Esat Digifone winning the country's second mobile phone licence.
The tribunal is currently inquiring into the granting of the licence in the mid 1990s.
Mr O'Brien, who began his evidence today, said Esat won the licence ahead of other consortia because it had prepared diligently and had better people working for it.
He also said the tribunal was conducting an unnecessary and unmerited investigation into what were ordinary business dealings.
The tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Moriarty, said he welcomed the opportunity to hear Mr O'Brien's version of events.
