Charlie McCreevy undertook to change the tax laws in ways that facilitated O'Reilly's Valentia take-over of the telecommunications infrastructure

Denis O'Brien is on the way to becoming the richest Irish person in the world. At present, according to The Sunday Times Rich List, he is worth €2.3 billion and that is set to double in three to four years became of the huge success in the Caribbean, Central America and now the pacific of his mobile phone company, Digicel.

By any standards he has been extraordinarily successful in business. He started in a small company in Cork, Sutton's, as an employee in 1960 and today he is one of the most powerful business people in Ireland, by far the most commanding presence in the Irish media, along with business interests around the world.

The Moriarty tribunal heard from former Taoiseach, John Bruton, and his adviser, Seán Donlon, how O'Reilly and his executives conveyed an impression of hostility towards the Rainbow government because it failed to concede to O'Reilly's corporate demands. O'Reilly denied this.

The prestigious American magazine published a critique of O'Reilly as CEO of Heinz raising virtually the same issues now being pushed by Denis O'Brien.

Allegations about a ‘crony' board, questions about lavish parties and the use of a corporate jet

Tony O'Reilly wields enormous media, corporate and political clout. He has escaped accountability so far. Now Denis O'Brien has challengend him within IN&M and questions arise about his political access. By Vincent Browne and Martin FitzPatrick.