Lowry‘s order for 85,000 Christmas cards refused

CONTROVERSIAL TD Michael Lowry placed an order for 85,000 Christmas cards which was rejected by the Oireachtas printing facility.

However Mr Lowry claimed to the Mail at the time that he deliberately had his cards printed himself because he ‘knew this would be an issue’.

Rumours circulated last December that Mr Lowry had ordered the vast quantity of Christmas cards at the expense of taxpayers, but he denied this to the Mail.

He later told another newspaper that he had inquired about having cards printed, but decided not to as there was a backlog.

However, correspondence obtained under a Freedom of Information request reveals he did in fact officially request to have 85,000 cards printed, but it was formally rejected by the Oireachtas.

In an email from the printing facility to Mr Lowry, the print manager states: ‘Dear Deputy Lowry, a requested print job has been rejected.’ He submitted his request for the festive cards on the 9th of December. The email states that the request did not comply with the printing services service level agreement and further states: ‘in addition to the terms of the service level agreement and any other commission guidance notes which have issued, members are also reminded that responsibility for compliance with any applicable statutory provisions rests with the individual member concerned.’

He had told the Mail in December, when asked had he placed an order for 85,000 Christmas cards, and if this order was holding up other print jobs: ‘No, and I knew this would be an issue, so I had all my cards printed myself. This is just mischief making, someone is making mischief with you.’ He went on to point out that he had paid for all of his cards himself.

Mr Lowry did not respond to requests for a comment yesterday evening.

When queried by the Irish Independent on the issue last December, Mr Lowry said that someone was ‘causing mischief’ after rumours began to circulate that he had placed the massive order.

It comes after Mr Lowry learned this week that he is facing punishing legal costs estimated at €300,000 for taking a High Court case challenging his Moriarty Tribunal legal bill.

I t was determined on Wednesday that the Independent TD, who is running for re-election, took the failed legal action for ‘personal advantage’ and not, as he claimed, ‘in t he public interest’.

He is to appeal the ruling.