Denis O’Brien claims death threats were made against him and his family after details of his banking affairs with the IBRC were revealed in the Dáil.
Denis O’Brien claims death threats were made against him and his family after details of his banking affairs with the IBRC were revealed in the Dáil.
The businessman has been giving evidence on the third day of his legal action against the Dáil and its Committee on Procedures and Privilege.
This case arises from comments made about Mr. O’Brien’s personal banking affairs with IBRC by Deputies Catherine Murphy and Pearse Doherty during Dáil debates in May and June last year.
By revealing those details, he claims they trespassed on the judicial domain and effectively determined the outcome of legal proceedings against RTÉ. An order was in place at the time preventing them from broadcasting those details.
From the stand, he said this case was important for the country as a whole and compared a person’s bank details with their medical records.
He described threats to his life and those of his family after the revelations were made.
Under cross-examination, he said he just wants the court to determine whether one can rely on a court order, or whether someone can get up in the Dáil and deliberately unravel that.
He stepped out of the witness box just after 12.20. The hearing is expected to go on for another four or five days.
