Synopsis
Michael Lowry is an Irish politician. He is known as TD (Teachta Dala) Micheal Lowry since 1987, representing the Tipperary North and then Tipperary since 2016. He is a former Chairman of Fine Gael political party and also served as the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications between 1994 and 1996.
Michael Lowry was pulled in some controversy which made him resign from the ministry and was banned from standing for the party Fine Gael again. Therefore, he has been an independent candidate and has maintained his seat in Dail ever since.
Early and Family Life
Michael Lowry was born in Tipperary County of Ireland on 13th March 1953. He got his educational qualification at Thurles CBS. There is no information available regarding his personal life. It is not known if he is married or what is the name of his wife or even past affairs and girlfriend. His personal life is in complete shade.
Political career
Michael Lowry was elected to North Tipperary County Council in 1979. In the early 1980s, Michael Lowry became the Gaelic Athletic Association administrator and the youngest Chairman of the Tipperary GAA Board.Michael Lowry then elected as a Fine Gael TD to Dail Eireann in 1987 general election. He then ran a commercial refrigeration business, Streamline Enterprises in 1988. He then became the Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party in 1994 and also the Minister for Transport, Energy, and Communications in the Rainbow Coalition government.
Michael Lowry’s time in the ministry was full of political scandals. The scandals include allegations of irregularities relating to the grant of mobile phone license to East Telecom, closure of the rural post offices and Lowry evading the tax. These allegations prompted the resignation of Lowry from the Cabinet and also banned from being the candidate from the party. At the 2016 general election Michael Lowry was elected for Tipperary.
Michael’s business
Michael Lowry is listed in the directorship of Companies Registration Office. He is linked with Garuda Ltd, an electric domestic appliances manufacturer, with the dual role. One is Abbeygreen Consulting that is involved in the construction work and special trades and second, Gdlc Business Consultants Ltd that is a business and management consultancy registered in Dublin.
He also is the owner of Glebeland Farm for his bloodstock and livestock. He is also an avid fan of horse racing. He also had a successful career in horseracing. He owned two horses named “Wedding Morn” and “Probably”.Micheal Lowry earns a fortune. He has a very high net worth.
Controversies of Michael Lowry
Michael Lowry was found to have tax invaded for which he had to resign from the ministry. His company Garuda had to pay $1.2 million Euros after a Revenue Audit and also paid two hundred thousand Euros as the settlement of his personal taxes.
In 2012, Michael Lowry had to bear the financial loss for launching a defamation lawsuit against Irish Independent journalist Sam Smyth over his article on Lowry regarding the Moriarty Tribunal. The case was thrown out of Circuit Court and he again appealed to the High Court and the High Court Justice Nicholas Kearns ordered Lowry to pay Sam Smyth’s legal costs.
Lowry again came into controversy in 2012 after being unable to declare the land. Lowry has owned a land in Wigan which he failed to declare in his register of member’s interests and the land interest was transferred to Standards in Public Office Commission.
In 2015, Micheal Lowry came into controversy after it was revealed that he lobbied Taoiseach Enda Kenny to have his former press adviser Valerie O’Reilly to a State Board. It was also revealed that Valerie O’Reilly had provoked the charged of cronyism in 2010. Michael Lowry also had lobbied Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe on the same matter
by Bchrome, 31 Dec, 2016
