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Line 2: {{other people}} {{Use Hiberno-English\|date=February 2021}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=April ~~2018~~2023}} {{Infobox person \| ~~name~~ image = File:Denis O'Brien 2014.jpg \| landscape = yes ~~\| image = File:Denis O'Brien 2014.jpg~~ \| caption = ~~Denis~~ O'Brien in 2014 \| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|1958\|4\|19\|df=yes}} \| birth_place = [[Cork (city)\|Cork]], Ireland<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair">{{Cite news \|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/from-bell-boy-to-billionaire-obrien-had-real-business-flair-26715949.html \|title=From bell boy to billionaire, O'Brien had real business flair \|last=Kennedy \|first=Edel \|date=23 March 2011 \|work=[[Irish Independent]] \|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref> \| death_place = \| death_date = \| education = [[~~University~~The ~~College~~High School, Dublin~~]]<br> [[Boston College~~]] \| alma_mater = {{ubl\|[[University College Dublin]]\| [[Boston College]]}} ~~\| occupation = Businessman~~ \| ~~title~~ occupation = Businessman \| title = Executive Chairman [[Digicel]] \| known_for = Chairman and Founder of [[~~Digicel\|~~ Digicel Group]] \| spouse = {{marriage\|Catherine Walsh\|1997}} \| children = 4 }} '''Denis O'Brien''' (born 19 April 1958) is an Irish [[billionaire]] businessman, and the founder and owner of [[Digicel]].<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /><ref name=":7Malta">{{Cite web\|title=The rules of attraction\|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/The-rules-of-attraction.593700\|access-date=~~2020-10-~~14 October 2020\|website=Times of Malta\|date=27 November 2015 \|language=en-gb}}</ref> He was listed among the World's Top 200 Billionaires in 2015 and was Ireland's richest native-born citizen for ~~a period of~~ several years.<ref name=":7Malta" /><ref>{{Cite web\|title=Forbes' rich list names five Irish billionaires\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/forbes-rich-list-names-five-irish-billionaires-31034976.html\|access-date=~~2020-10-~~14 October 2020\|website=independent\|date=3 March 2015 \|language=en}}</ref> His business interests have also extended to aircraft leasing ([[Aergo Capital]]), utilities support ([[Actavo]]), petroleum ([[Topaz Energy]]), [[Association football\|football]] (a minority shareholder of [[Celtic F.C.]]), and healthcare ([[Beacon Hospital]]<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Molloy \|first=Tom \|title=Businessman Denis O'Brien takes control of Beacon Hospital \|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/businessman-denis-obrien-takes-control-of-beacon-hospital-30163314.html \|newspaper=Irish Independent \|date=7 April 2014~~-04-07~~ \|accessdate=~~2021-03-~~28 March 2021}}</ref>). As former chairman of the [[Esat Digifone]] consortium, O'Brien was questioned by the [[Moriarty Tribunal]], which investigated the awarding of a mobile phone licence to Esat, among other things.▼ In 2021, O'Brien sold his stake in Communicorp<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Denis O'Brien's Communicorp agrees €100m-plus sale to Bauer Media Audio \|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/denis-o-brien-s-communicorp-agrees-100m-plus-sale-to-bauer-media-audio-1.4494816 \|access-date=29 March 2023 \|newspaper=The Irish Times \|language=en}}</ref> and the Pacific operations of Digicel. O'Brien engages in various philanthropic activities, including being on the board of [[Concern Worldwide]], founding the Iris O'Brien Foundation and establishing a fellowship at [[Boston College]]. In 2019, O'Brien earned the Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Irish-US Council.▼ ▲'''Denis O'Brien''' (born 19 April 1958) is an Irish [[billionaire]] businessman, and the founder and owner of [[Digicel]].<ref name="carlos_slim"/><ref name=":7">{{Cite web\|title=The rules of attraction\|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/The-rules-of-attraction.593700\|access-date=2020-10-14\|website=Times of Malta\|language=en-gb}}</ref> He was listed among the World's Top 200 Billionaires in 2015 and was Ireland's richest native-born citizen for a period of several years.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web\|title=Forbes' rich list names five Irish billionaires\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/forbes-rich-list-names-five-irish-billionaires-31034976.html\|access-date=2020-10-14\|website=independent\|language=en}}</ref> His business interests have also extended to aircraft leasing ([[Aergo Capital]]), utilities support ([[Actavo]]), petroleum ([[Topaz Energy]]), [[Association football\|football]] (a minority shareholder of [[Celtic F.C.]]), and healthcare ([[Beacon Hospital]]<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Molloy \|first=Tom \|title=Businessman Denis O'Brien takes control of Beacon Hospital \|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/businessman-denis-obrien-takes-control-of-beacon-hospital-30163314.html \|newspaper=Irish Independent \|date=2014-04-07 \|accessdate=2021-03-28}}</ref>). As former chairman of the [[Esat Digifone]] consortium, O'Brien was questioned by the [[Moriarty Tribunal]], which investigated the awarding of a mobile phone licence to Esat, among other things. ▲In 2021, O'Brien sold his stake in Communicorp and the Pacific operations of Digicel. O'Brien engages in various philanthropic activities, including being on the board of [[Concern Worldwide]], founding the Iris O'Brien Foundation and establishing a fellowship at [[Boston College]]. In 2019, O'Brien earned the Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Irish-US Council. == Early life == O'Brien was born inon ~~the~~19 ~~city~~April of1958<ref>{{Cite web \|title=About \|url=https://denis-obrien.com/about-denis-obrien/ \|access-date=18 April 2023 \|website=Denis O'Brien \|language=en-US}}</ref> in [[Cork (city)\|Cork]] city. He ~~was~~has ~~the~~one ~~only~~brother ~~boy~~and ~~among~~two ~~four children~~sisters,<ref name="Flair" /> and grew up in the [[Ballsbridge]] area of [[Dublin]].<ref name="DOB_sr_funeral_IT"/> His father created a medical supply company and later a horse nutrition business.<ref name="DOB_sr_funeral_IT">{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Murtagh\|first=Peter\|title=Business and politics figures at funeral of Denis O'Brien snr\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/business-and-politics-figures-at-funeral-of-denis-o-brien-snr-1.2545593\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> As a child, Denis accompanied his father on business trips, where he learned how to close sales.<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /> He attended [[The High School, Dublin\|The High School]] in [[Rathgar]], where he was once suspended for three months, until the school asked him back to participate in a [[rugby football\|rugby]] championship.<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /> His first job was as a hotel bellhop at age 14, and he started working on building cleaning jobs at 15.<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /> In 1977, O'Brien received a [[Bachelor of Arts\|BA]] in politics, history and logic at [[University College Dublin]].<ref name="HonDeg_UCD">{{cite news\|date=15 November 2006\|title=Alma Mater confers Denis O'Brien with honorary Doctor of Laws\|url=http://www.ucd.ie/news/nov06/111506_dennis_obrien.htm}}</ref> While attending UCD, he received a scholarship to attend [[Boston College]], where he completed an [[Master of Business Administration\|MBA]]. Line 30: == Career == === Early stages === Upon his return to Dublin, O'Brien was employed at a small investment bank, Trinity Bank, but he left that job to become a [[personal assistant]] to [[Tony Ryan]], owner of an aircraft leasing company.<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /> === Communications and media === Line 37: ====Communicorp==== {{main\|Communicorp}} O'Brien was until early 2021 the owner of Communicorp,<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/denis-o-brien-s-communicorp-sells-latvian-radio-group-1.2365092\|title=Denis O'Brien's Communicorp sells Latvian radio group\|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] \|language=en-US\|access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref> a media holding company operating across Europe. He started the company in Ireland in 1989,<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/change-of-ceo-in-denis-obriens-radio-group-727669-Dec2012/\|title=Change of CEO in Denis O'Brien's radio group\|last=O'Carroll\|first=Sinead\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=22 December 2012 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-11-~~12 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/europe/ireland-rte-denis-obrien.html\|title=Irish Media, Fearing Lawsuits, Steers Clear of a Billionaire\|date=29 May 2015\|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> where it has owned independent radio stations like [[Newstalk]] and [[Today FM]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/communicorp-emap-idUSL1164050020080111\|title=Communicorp seals purchase of Emap radio stations\|date=11 January 2008~~-01-11~~\|work=Reuters\|access-date=12 November 2019~~-11-12~~\|language=en}}</ref><ref name="finfacts_16072007">{{cite news\|url=http://www.finfacts.ie/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010600.shtml\|title=Denis O'Brien's Communicorp to acquire Irish radio stations -Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio -– in €200m deal\|date=16 July 2007\|work=Finfacts\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601184902/http://www.finfacts.ie/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010600.shtml\|archive-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> The company expanded to markets in [[Eastern Europe]]an countries, later selling some of its stations to local operators.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/denis-o-brien-s-communicorp-sells-latvian-radio-group-1.2365092\|title=Denis O'Brien's Communicorp sells Latvian radio group\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=12 November 2019~~-11-12~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58148\|title=Denis O'Brien sells Highland Radio\|date=11 May 2008\|newspaper=The Irish Emigrant\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601191258/http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58148\|archive-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Communicorp expanded to the [[United Kingdom]], acquiring eight radio stations across the country;<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/communicorp-uk-stations-acquisition-1302367-Feb2014/\|title=Communicorp to snap up eight UK radio stations\|last=Ryan\|first=Nicky\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=6 February 2014 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-11-~~12 November 2019}}</ref> in 2017, Communicorp moved its UK radio stations to a new independent company, Communicorp UK, of which O'Brien owns 98% of the shares.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://radiotoday.ie/2018/12/communicorp-group-disposes-of-communicorp-uk/\|title=Communicorp Group disposes of Communicorp UK\|date=6 December 2018~~-12-06~~\|website=RadioToday\|language=en-GB\|access-date=12 November 2019~~-11-12~~}}</ref> In February 2021, O'Brien sold Communicorp to Bauer Media Audio for approximately €100 million.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Hancock\|first=Ciarán\|title=O'Brien exits Irish media after 30 years of mixed fortunes\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/o-brien-exits-irish-media-after-30-years-of-mixed-fortunes-1.4495046\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> ==== Esat Telecom and Esat Digifone ==== {{Main\|BT Ireland\|O2 (Ireland)}} In 1991, O'Brien formed a telecommunications consortium called Esat Telecom to compete with the state-owned [[Telecom Éireann\|Telecom Eireann]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB861744139978677500\|title=Irish Phone Market Proves Tough for Upstart to Crack\|first=Jennifer L. \|last=Schenker\|date=~~1997-04-~~23 April 1997\|work=Wall Street Journal\|access-date=~~2019-11-~~12 November 2019\|language=en-US\|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In partnership with [[Telenor]], Norway's state telecom operator, Esat formed [[O2 (Ireland)\|Esat Digifone]], which made a successful bid for Ireland's second GSM mobile licence.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/esat-telecom-beat-the-world-s-best-in-mobile-phone-bid-1.106276\|title=Esat Telecom beat the world's best in mobile phone bid\|last=Kennedy\|first=Geraldine\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-11-~~12 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.sbpost.ie/news-features/we-won-because-ours-was-simply-the-best-bid-55323.html\|title=We won because our was simply the best bid\|last=Gaffney\|first=Lucy\|date=27 March 2011\|newspaper=The Sunday Business Post\|access-date=27 March 2011}}</ref> Circumstances around the awarding of the licence to Esat Digifone became the subject of the [[Moriarty Tribunal]].<ref>Court action on the awarding of the license by the Persona grouping has been ~~signaled~~signalled.</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/cab-seeks-to-question-denis-o-brien-on-tribunal-findings-1.2490189\|title=Cab seeks to question Denis O'Brien on tribunal findings\|last=Keena\|first=Colm\|date=9 January 2016\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> On 7 November 1997, Esat Telecom Group plc held an initial public offering and was listed on the [[Irish Stock Exchange]], [[London Stock Exchange]], and [[NASDAQ]].<ref>{{Cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pdde9imAmOYC&q=esat%20telecom%20ipo%20november%201997&pg=PA7\|title=European Telecom Monthly Newsletter\|editor1-first=Paul \|editor1-last=Polishuk\|publisher=Information Gatekeepers \|language=en}}</ref> In 2000, Telenor made a bid for control of the company, but O'Brien sold it to [[BT Group\|BT]], reportedly making €250 million from the sale.<ref name="telegraph_northedge_splash">{{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2815836/Denis-OBrien-The-man-who-wants-to-make-a-splash-at-Independent-News-and-Media.html\|title=Denis O'Brien: The man who wants to make a splash at Independent News & Media – Telegraph\|last=Northedge\|first=Richard\|date=16 September 2007\|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]\|access-date=21 August 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305152450/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2815836/Denis-OBrien-The-man-who-wants-to-make-a-splash-at-Independent-News-and-Media.html\|archive-date=5 March 2015\|location=[[London, UK\|London]]\|issn=0307-1235\|oclc=49632006}}</ref><ref name="TelegraphOBrien">{{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8399790/Denis-OBrien-paid-minister-to-help-secure-Irish-phone-licence.html\|title=Denis O'Brien 'paid minister to help secure Irish phone licence'\|last=Russell\|first=Jonathan\|date=22 March 2011\|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph\|access-date=24 March 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305152931/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8399790/Denis-OBrien-paid-minister-to-help-secure-Irish-phone-licence.html\|archive-date=5 March 2015\|location=London}}</ref> Line 48: {{Main\|Aergo Capital}} In 1999, O'Brien co-founded aircraft leasing company Aergo Capital, ofin which he owned an 80% stake. From its inception until 2014, Aergo traded more than 150 aircraft with a gross value of over €791 million (approximately $1 billion). In October 2014, O'Brien and his partner, Fred Browne, sold the company to CarVal, a US investment firm; Browne remained with the new company as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/obrien-sells-stake-in-aircraft-leasing-firm-aergo-30633534.html\|title=O'Brien sells stake in aircraft leasing firm Aergo\|last=Mulligan\|first=John\|date=3 October 2014\|website=Independent}}</ref> ====Independent News & Media==== {{main\|Independent News & Media}} In the late 2000s, O'Brien began purchasing shares of Independent News & Media (INM), ultimately spending an estimated €500 million to amass a 29.9% stake in the company.<ref name=":4Colourful">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/media/sale-marks-end-of-a-chapter-in-companys-long-colourful-history-of-ownership-38067352.html\|title=Sale marks end of a chapter in company's long, colourful history of ownership\|last=Mulligan\|first=John\|date=1 May 2019\|website=Irish independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-seals-200m-deal-for-emap-s-three-irish-radio-outlets-1.927929\|title=O'Brien seals €200m deal for Emap's three Irish radio outlets\|last=Hancock\|first=Ciarán\|date=12 January 2008\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601190146/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/o-brien-seals-200m-deal-for-emap-s-three-irish-radio-outlets-1.927929\|archive-date=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/denis-obrien-ups-stake-in-independent-news-amp-media-to-299pc-26850114.html\|title=Denis O'Brien ups stake in Independent News & Media to 29.9pc\|date=4 May 2012\|website=Irish Independent\|language=en\|access-date=4 May 2012}}</ref> O'Brien clashed with the company's board, especially former owner [[Tony O'Reilly]],<ref>{{cite news\|last=McEnanaey\|first=Tom\|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/obrien-branded-a-dissident-and-accused-of-destabilising-company-1329206.html\|title=O'Brien branded a 'dissident' and accused of destabilising company\|date=28 March 2008\|newspaper=Irish Independent\|access-date=28 March 2008\|publisher=Denis O'Brien}}</ref> who stepped down from his position as CEO in 2009 and sold most of his INM shares in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Greenslade\|first=Roy\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/may/05/anthony-o-reilly-independent-news-and-media\|title=Tony O'Reilly sells off INM shares five years after his departure as CEO\|date=5 May 2014~~-05-05~~\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=~~2020-04-~~22 April 2020\|language=en-GB\|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In April 2019, O'Brien and [[Dermot Desmond\|Dermont Desmond]], INM's second largest shareholder at the time, sold their shares to the Belgian media group [[Mediahuis]]; O'Brien reportedly received €43.5m as part of the deal.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Sweney\|first=Mark\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/apr/30/ireland-independent-news-media-sold-denis-o-brien\|title=Independent News & Media to be sold to Belgian group\|date=~~2019-04-~~30 April 2019\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=~~2020-04-~~22 April 2020\|language=en-GB\|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Although he never owned a majority stake in INM, O'Brien was at times accused of exerting significant influence at the company. In 2014, allegations arose that Stephen Rae, a group editor at INM, ordered amendments to a column by ''Sunday Independent'' editor Anne Harris that contained references to O'Brien.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/jul/28/irish-independent-denis-o-brien\|title=Irish newspaper editor's column was changed after going to press\|date=28 July 2014\|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]\|access-date=28 July 2014\|location=London}}</ref> In 2015, Paul Meagher, a solicitor for O'Brien, reportedly called INM solicitor Simon McAleese in 2012 to block a story related to environment minister [[Phil Hogan]].<ref>{{cite news\|last=Tighe\|first=Mark\|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIiTxqmWwAAkOlM.jpg\|title=INM was asked to 'kill' Phil coverage\|date=28 June 2015\|newspaper=The Sunday Times}}</ref> In March 2018, the [[Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement]] (ODCE) in Ireland applied to the [[High Court (Ireland)\|High Court]] of Ireland to appoint inspectors to Independent News and Media to investigate an alleged [[data breach]].<ref>{{Cite journal\|last=Murphy\|first=David\|date=24 March 2018\|title=ODCE in court bid to appoint inspectors to probe INM\|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0324/949882-corporate-watchdog-inm/\|journal=RTÉ News \|~~via~~url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310023432/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0324/949882-corporate-watchdog-inm/ \|archive-date= Mar 10, 2021 }}</ref> According to an affidavit filed by the ODCE, invoices for the data interrogation were discharged by Blaydon Limited.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/inm-to-pursue-wrongdoers-for-cost-of-odce-inquiry-into-corporate-governance-36805525.html\|title=INM to pursue 'wrongdoers' for cost of ODCE inquiry into corporate governance\|last=Phelan\|first=Shane\|date=14 April 2018\|website=independent \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030230513/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/inm-to-pursue-wrongdoers-for-cost-of-odce-inquiry-into-corporate-governance-36805525.html \|archive-date= Oct 30, 2020 }}</ref> In June 2019, Independent News & Media was sold to the Belgian group [[Mediahuis]]<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/media/end-of-an-era-as-inm-sale-to-mediahuis-approved-at-egm-38256716.html\|title='End of an era' as INM sale to Mediahuis approved at EGM\|website=independent \|date=26 Jun 2019 \|first1=John \|last1=Mulligan \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219213516/https://www.independent.ie/business/media/end-of-an-era-as-inm-sale-to-mediahuis-approved-at-egm-38256716.html \|archive-date= Feb 19, 2021 }}</ref> and de-listed from the [[Euronext Dublin]] exchange, thus ending O'Brien's involvement in the group. It was reported that he lost in excess of €450m in total on his INM investment.<ref name=":4Colourful" /> ====Digicel==== {{Main\|Digicel}} In 2001, O'Brien founded Digicel, a telecom company that operates in the [[Caribbean]], [[Central America]], and [[Asia-Pacific\|Asia Pacific]]. Using the cash from his sale of Esat Telecom, O'Brien used Digicel to build a wireless network in Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2006-08-27-digicel_x.htm\|title=Digicel makes cellphone connection in Jamaica \|website=USA TODAY \|date=2006-08-27 ~~USATODAY.com~~\|~~website~~first1=Leslie \|last1=Cauley \|access-date=11 December 2019 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211194245/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2006-08-27-digicel_x.htm \|~~access~~archive-date=~~2019-12-~~ 11 December 2019 }}</ref> That same year, Digicel expanded into the South Pacific. As of 2022, Digicel operates in 25 countries. <ref>{{Cite web \|date=~~2022-07-~~14 July 2022 \|title=Digicel completes sale of US$1.85 billion Pacific business to Telstra \|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/07/14/digicel-completes-sale-of-of-us1-85-billion-pacific-business-to-telstra/ \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Digital TV Europe \|language=en-GB}}</ref>▼ Along with Digicel, O'Brien created the Digicel Foundation, which has worked with local organizations to develop community services, build schools and health centers, and support recovery efforts.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-website-pays-tribute-to-obrien-charitable-work-hz395m8sq\|title=New website pays tribute to O'Brien charitable work\|last=Tighe\|first=Mark\|date=~~2018-07-~~29 July 2018\|work=The Sunday Times\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019\|language=en\|issn=0956-1382}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/education/denis-o-brien-s-digicel-foundation-opens-its-174th-school-in-haiti\|title=Denis O'Brien's Digicel Foundation opens 174th school in Haiti\|date=3 February 2018~~-02-03~~\|website=IrishCentral.com\|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], O'Brien pledged €3.5 million to assist recovery efforts.<ref>{{cite news\|first1=Patricia\|last1=McDonagh\|first2=Jason\|last2=O'Brien\|url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/americas/obrien-pledges-836435m-as-charities-plead-for-money-2013043.html\|title=O'Brien pledges €3.5m as charities plead for money\|newspaper=Irish Independent\|publisher=Denis O'Brien\|date=14 January 2010\|access-date=14 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=":0Clinton">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/obrien-receives-prestigious-award-from-clinton-28814011.html\|title=O'Brien receives prestigious award from Clinton\|website=Independent.ie\|date=26 September 2012 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> In 2012, President [[Michel Martelly]] of Haiti awarded O'Brien with the [[National Order of Honour and Merit]] for his investments, contributions and promotion of the country,<ref name="O'Brien Honoured In Haiti">{{cite news\|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110629/business/business2.html\|title=O'Brien Honoured In Haiti\|date=11 June 2011\|newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner\|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> and in 2015, O'Brien received honorary membership of the [[Order of Jamaica]] for his service to the country's telecommunications industry.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/a-juicy-award-for-embattled-denis-o-brien-1.2316155\|title=A juicy award for embattled Denis O'Brien\|last=Paul\|first=Mark\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref>▼ ▲In 2001, O'Brien founded Digicel, a telecom company that operates in the [[Caribbean]], [[Central America]], and [[Asia-Pacific\|Asia Pacific]]. Using the cash from his sale of Esat Telecom, O'Brien used Digicel to build a wireless network in Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2006-08-27-digicel_x.htm\|title=Digicel makes cellphone connection in Jamaica - USATODAY.com\|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com\|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> That same year, Digicel expanded into the South Pacific. As of 2022, Digicel operates in 25 countries. <ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-07-14 \|title=Digicel completes sale of US$1.85 billion Pacific business to Telstra \|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/07/14/digicel-completes-sale-of-of-us1-85-billion-pacific-business-to-telstra/ \|access-date=2022-10-13 \|website=Digital TV Europe \|language=en-GB}}</ref> ▲Along with Digicel, O'Brien created the Digicel Foundation, which has worked with local organizations to develop community services, build schools and health centers, and support recovery efforts.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-website-pays-tribute-to-obrien-charitable-work-hz395m8sq\|title=New website pays tribute to O'Brien charitable work\|last=Tighe\|first=Mark\|date=2018-07-29\|work=The Sunday Times\|access-date=2019-12-11\|language=en\|issn=0956-1382}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/education/denis-o-brien-s-digicel-foundation-opens-its-174th-school-in-haiti\|title=Denis O'Brien's Digicel Foundation opens 174th school in Haiti\|date=2018-02-03\|website=IrishCentral.com\|language=en\|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], O'Brien pledged €3.5 million to assist recovery efforts.<ref>{{cite news\|first1=Patricia\|last1=McDonagh\|first2=Jason\|last2=O'Brien\|url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/americas/obrien-pledges-836435m-as-charities-plead-for-money-2013043.html\|title=O'Brien pledges €3.5m as charities plead for money\|newspaper=Irish Independent\|publisher=Denis O'Brien\|date=14 January 2010\|access-date=14 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/obrien-receives-prestigious-award-from-clinton-28814011.html\|title=O'Brien receives prestigious award from Clinton\|website=Independent.ie\|language=en\|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> In 2012, President [[Michel Martelly]] of Haiti awarded O'Brien with the [[National Order of Honour and Merit]] for his investments, contributions and promotion of the country,<ref name="O'Brien Honoured In Haiti">{{cite news\|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110629/business/business2.html\|title=O'Brien Honoured In Haiti\|date=11 June 2011\|newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner\|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> and in 2015, O'Brien received honorary membership of the [[Order of Jamaica]] for his service to the country's telecommunications industry.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/a-juicy-award-for-embattled-denis-o-brien-1.2316155\|title=A juicy award for embattled Denis O'Brien\|last=Paul\|first=Mark\|website=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref> In May 2020, Digicel filed for bankruptcy court reorganization and successfully sought a [[debt restructuring]] agreement.<ref name=":8Digicel bankruptcy">{{Cite web \|title=Caribbean telecom provider Digicel files for bankruptcy \|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/caribbean-telecom-provider-digicel-files-bankruptcy-70774525 \|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~ \|website=ABC News \|language=en}}</ref> A debt exchange was approved by the company's bondholders and took place in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=~~2020-06-~~18 June 2020\|title=Digicel Group to finalise debt swap after court approval\|url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20200618/digicel-group-finalise-debt-swap-after-court-approval\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|website=jamaica-gleaner.com\|language=en}}</ref> As part of the exchange, O'Brien agreed to contribute $50 million of assets to Digicel, including $25 million in cash and the company's Jamaican headquarters.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Brennan\|first=Joe\|title=O'Brien may pull off $1.7bn Digicel debt write-off – but at what cost?\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/o-brien-may-pull-off-1-7bn-digicel-debt-write-off-but-at-what-cost-1.4220151\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> In October 2021, Digicel announced the sale of its Pacific operations to [[Telstra\|Telstra Corp]], an ~~Australia~~Australian telecommunications company.<ref name=":9Telstra">{{Cite news\|date=~~2021-10-~~25 October 2021\|title=Digicel Pacific: Australia's Telstra buys Pacific firm 'to block China'\|language=en-GB\|work=BBC News\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59033485\|access-date=~~2021-10-~~25 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="~~:10~~Galloway">{{Cite web\|~~last~~last1=Galloway\|~~first~~first1=~~Zoe Samios,~~ Anthony\|last2=Samios\|first2=Zoe\|date=~~2021-10-~~24 October 2021\|title=Telstra seals $US1.6b deal to buy Digicel with a helping hand from Canberra\|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/telstra-seals-us1-6b-deal-to-buy-digicel-20211025-p592sj.html\|access-date=~~2021-10-~~25 October 2021\|website=The Sydney Morning Herald\|language=en}}</ref> Valued at US$1.85 billion, the sale was completed in July 2022, with Telstra agreeing to pay Digicel US$1.6 billion before adjustments and deductions. Telstra purchased all six Digicel Pacific markets, including Fiji, Nauru, ~~Papau~~Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. <ref>{{Cite web \|date=14 July 2022~~-07-14~~ \|title=Digicel completes sale of US$1.85 billion Pacific business to Telstra \|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/07/14/digicel-completes-sale-of-of-us1-85-billion-pacific-business-to-telstra/ \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Digital TV Europe \|language=en-GB}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Digicel completes sale of Pacific operations {{!}} Loop Caribbean News \|url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/digicel-completes-sale-pacific-operations-3 \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Loop News \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|last=Gowran \|first=Leigh Mc \|date=~~2022-07-~~14 July 2022 \|title=~~O’Brien’s~~O'Brien's Digicel closes sale of Pacific arm to Australian telco Telstra \|url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/digicel-pacific-telstra-sale \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Silicon Republic \|language=en}}</ref> ====Actavo==== {{Main\|Actavo}} In 2012, O'Brien purchased Siteserv, a utilities support company, from [[Irish Bank Resolution Corporation\|IBRC]] for €45m; in 2015, the company was renamed Actavo.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/siteserv-rebrands-in-euro1bn-sales-drive-rpqmd7t79l0\|title=Siteserv rebrands in €1bn sales drive\|first=Gavin\|last=Daly\|date=18 October 2015\|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref> Actavo was bought and controlled through O'Brien's firm Millington on the Isle of Man.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/millington-just-one-of-many-manx-companies-used-by-denis-o-brien-1.2187040\|title=Millington: just one of many Manx companies used by Denis O'Brien\|last=Paul\|first=Mark\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> In 2016, Actavo expanded into the United States through the purchase of Atlantic Engineering Services, a structural engineering firm.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/actavo-expands-into-us-with-aes-acquisition-34558481.html\|title=Actavo expands into US with AES acquisition\|website=Independent.ie\|date=21 March 2016 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> Actavo was also involved in the installation of fibre networks for Digicel in the Caribbean.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/forget-about-irish-water-actavo-networks-boss-says-his-eye-is-on-breaking-america-34727387.html\|title=Forget about Irish Water, Actavo Network's boss says his eye is on breaking America\|website=Independent.ie\|date=19 May 2016 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> ====Topaz Energy==== {{Main\|Topaz Energy}} In December 2013, O'Brien purchased €300 million in debt owed by Topaz Energy to the [[Irish Bank Resolution Corporation]]. In December 2014, Topaz's parent company, Kendrick Investments, announced it would buy all of [[Esso]]'s Irish operations.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/esso-topaz-denis-obrien-buy-out-1832019-Dec2014/\|title=Denis O'Brien-owned Topaz to take control of 38 Esso stations\|last=McNamee\|first=Michael Sheils\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=12 December 2014 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/esso-topaz-denis-obrien-buy-out-1832019-Dec2014/\|title=Denis O'Brien-owned Topaz to take control of 38 Esso stations\|date=2 June 2015~~-06-02~~\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602225719/http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/esso-topaz-denis-obrien-buy-out-1832019-Dec2014/\|access-date=11 December 2019~~-12-11~~\|archive-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> In December 2015, [[Alimentation Couche-Tard]], a Canadian convenience store company, announced that it planned to buy Topaz.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadas-couche-tard-to-buy-irelands-topaz-energy-1449074964\|title=Canada's Couche-Tard to Buy Ireland's Topaz Energy\|last=King\|first=Carolyn\|newspaper=Wall Street Journal\|date=2 December 2015\|language=en-US\|access-date=~~2019-12-~~11 December 2019}}</ref> The sale was completed in February 2016; Topaz had more than 2,000 employees and close to 35% of the consumer market in Ireland at the time of the sale.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/topaz-sale-to-couche-tard-completed-new-md-named-1.2518090\|title=Topaz sale to Couche-Tard completed, new MD named\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en-US\|access-date=20 March 2016}}</ref> ==== Davos and bank directorships ==== O'Brien has attended the [[World Economic Forum]]'s annual winter meeting in [[Davos\|Davos, Switzerland]], alongside other billionaires like [[Bill Gates]] and [[George Soros]].<ref>{{cite news\|date=21 January 2015\|title=Enda Kenny is headed there, along with Denis O'Brien… So what's this Davos all about? It's a bit like school camp, but for billionaires\|work=TheJournal.ie\|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/davos-2015-cost-1893681-Jan2015/\|access-date=21 January 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602215101/http://www.thejournal.ie/davos-2015-cost-1893681-Jan2015/\|archive-date=2 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last1=Miller\|first1=Matthew\|last2=Metcalf\|first2=Tom\|date=20 January 2015\|title=Davos Billionaires Predict Low Interest Rates, Terrorism\|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-20/davos-billionaires-predict-low-interest-rates-terrorism-in-2015\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401165520/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-20/davos-billionaires-predict-low-interest-rates-terrorism-in-2015\|archive-date=1 April 2015\|website=Bloomberg}}</ref> In 2000, O'Brien became a director of the [[Bank of Ireland]], and in September 2005, he was named a deputy governor of the bank. In September 2006, he resigned as both deputy governor and as a member of the bank's court (board).<ref name=":6BoI">{{cite news\|date=12 September 2006\|title=O'Brien leaves Bank of Ireland Court\|publisher=RTÉ News\|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0912/boi-business.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305152010/http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2006/0912/80253-boi/\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> O'Brien reportedly resigned due to increased demands related to his international business interests.<ref name=":6BoI" /> ==== Football ==== Between 2008 and 2016, O'Brien gave the [[Football Association of Ireland]] (FAI) as much as €12 million to help pay the salaries of senior officials within the organisation, including [[Giovanni Trapattoni]].<ref>{{cite news\|date=13 February 2008\|title=Billionaire fan part-paying Trapattoni's wages\|publisher=ESPN\|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=507734&cc=3436\|access-date=13 February 2008\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305163406/http://www.espnfc.com/story/507734\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Hancock\|first=Ciarán\|title=Denis O'Brien stopped payments to FAI in 2016\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/denis-o-brien-stopped-payments-to-fai-in-2016-1.3721643\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, O'Brien was named Honorary Life President of the FAI.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Burke\|first=Ceimin\|title=Denis O'Brien has been named as the Honorary Life President of the FAI\|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/denis-obrien-fai-president-4188789-Aug2018/\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=The Journal\|date=18 August 2018 \|language=en}}</ref> In 2006, O'Brien purchased a 2.82% stake in Glasgow-based [[Celtic F.C.]] from a former manager of the club, Martin O'Neill.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=7 October 2009\|title=Profile – the mystery Celtic investor who is one of football's richest men\|language=en-GB\|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)\|The Herald]]\|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12611360.Profile_____the_mystery_Celtic_investor_who_is_one_of_football___s_richest_men/\|access-date=17 April 2018~~\|df=dmy-all~~}}</ref> As of June 2018, O'Brien reportedly had increased his ownership to 13%.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=1 June 2018~~-06-01~~\|title=Dave King makes more Murdoch MacLennan conflict of interest claims\|url=https://thecelticstar.com/dave-king-makes-murdoch-maclennan-conflict-interest-claims/\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=The Celtic Star\|language=en-GB}}</ref> ==== Other business interests ==== In 1998, O'Brien purchased Planal SA, the holding company for the [[Quinta do Lago]] golf resort in [[Algarve]], [[Portugal]].<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Hancock\|first=Ciarán\|title=Denis O'Brien's Algarve resort reported for sale\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/denis-o-brien-s-algarve-resort-reported-for-sale-1.2276796\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> == Moriarty Tribunal == {{main\|Moriarty Tribunal}} In 1997, the Moriarty Tribunal was established to look into allegations against two Irish politicians, [[Charles Haughey]] and [[Michael Lowry (politician)\|Michael Lowry]].<ref name=":2Tribunal findings">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/editorial/the-moriarty-tribunal--findings-are-a-challenge-to-us-all-149044.html\|title=The Moriarty Tribunal -– Findings are a challenge to us all\|date=23 March 2011~~-03-23~~\|website=www.irishexaminer.com\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020}}</ref> After 14 years, the Tribunal's final report found, among other things, that Lowry, Ireland's then energy and communications minister, assisted O'Brien in his bid to secure a mobile phone contract for Esat Digifone.<ref name=":2Tribunal findings" /> The tribunal found that this happened after [[Fine Gael]] received a $50,000 donation from O'Brien via a circuitous route, although the tribunal also acknowledged that the money was not intended as a payment. However, because the Tribunal was not a court of law, its findings were legally "sterile".<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sterile-status-of-inquiries-begs-question-of-their-justification-1.600397\|title='Sterile' status of inquiries begs question of their justification\|last=Coulter\|first=Carol\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=25 February 2020~~-02-25~~}}</ref> In 2018, Michael Lowry won an appeal over the Moriarty Tribunal's legal costs. The appeal judges awarded Lowry 80% of his costs for the legal battle. <ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news \|title=Michael Lowry wins appeal over Moriarty Tribunal legal costs \|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/michael-lowry-wins-appeal-over-moriarty-tribunal-legal-costs-1.3428470 \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|date=23 March 2018~~-03-23~~ \|title=Michael Lowry avoids most of tribunal case costs -– Extra.ie \|url=https://extra.ie/2018/03/23/news/politics/michael-lowry-tribunal-case-costs \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|language=en-GB}}</ref> That same year, the High Court ruled that the State was not entitled to indemnity and contribution from ~~O’Brien’s~~O'Brien's telecommunications company regarding any loss that might arise from the granting of the country's second mobile phone licence in 1996. <ref>{{Cite web \|date=~~2018-07-~~31 July 2018 \|title=State not entitled to indemnity from BT over Declan Ganley's action on mobile licence \|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30859068.html \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Irish Examiner \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Judge rules out State indemnity over mobile licence award \|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/judge-rules-out-state-indemnity-over-mobile-licence-award-37172996.html \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=independent \|date=August 2018 \|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, the High Court upheld the 2018 ruling after the State attempted to appeal it. Three judges unanimously dismissed the appeal and stated that ~~O’Brien’s~~O'Brien's telecommunications company was entitled to the legal costs of the appeal. <ref>{{Cite web \|title=Court upholds indemnity decision on legal action over second mobile phone licence \|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/business/court-upholds-indemnity-decision-on-legal-action-over-second-mobile-phone-licence-1222296.html \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=BreakingNews.ie \|date=December 2021 \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|last=Faolain \|first=Aodhan O. \|title=Court upholds indemnity ruling on legal action over country's second mobile phone licence \|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/court-of-appeal-state-not-entitled-to-contribution-action-over-mobile-phone-licence-5617517-Dec2021/ \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=TheJournal.ie \|date=December 2021 \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|title=State fails to put BT on hook over mobile licence \|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/state-fails-to-put-bt-on-hook-over-mobile-licence-41109210.html \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=independent \|date=2 December 2021 \|language=en}}</ref> [[Sam Smyth]], a radio show host that aired on one of ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien's networks, claimed he was fired as a result of his reporting on the Moriarty Tribunal.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/today-fms-sam-smyth-changes-topic-during-discussion-about-his-own-sacking-255216-Oct2011/\|title=Today FM's Smyth changes topic during discussion about his own sacking\|date=16 October 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305151315/http://www.thejournal.ie/today-fms-sam-smyth-changes-topic-during-discussion-about-his-own-sacking-255216-Oct2011/\|archive-date=5 March 2015\|publisher=thejournal.ie}}</ref> Today FM responded to the claim, stating that "the decision was made to address a decline in listenership and was part of an initiative to improve programming quality." The Today FM board supported the decision, which was one of several programming changes made by Willy O'Reilly.<ref>{{cite news\|first=Charlie\|last=Taylor\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1016/breaking9.html\|title=Smyth show to end on Today FM\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|date=16 October 2011\|access-date=16 October 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305160530/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/smyth-show-to-end-on-today-fm-1.885361\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> ==Relationship with the media== In 2012, O'Brien threatened to sue journalist and broadcaster [[Vincent Browne]] over statements in Browne's articles that O'Brien claimed were defamatory.<ref name=":5Libel threat">{{cite news \|last=Kealy \|first=Willie \|date=5 August 2012 \|title=Denis O'Brien makes personal libel threat to Vincent Browne \|newspaper=Sunday Independent \|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/denis-obrien-makes-personal-libel-threat-to-vincent-browne-26883578.html}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web \|title= Denis O'Brien makes personal libel threat to Vincent Browne\|date=5 August 2012 \|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/denis-obrien-makes-personal-libel-threat-to-vincent-browne-26883578.html}}</ref> In February 2013, O'Brien sued the ''[[Irish Daily Mail]]'' for defamation over his numerous appearances in [[RTÉ]] news reports on the relief effort after the Haiti earthquake. The court awarded O'Brien €150,000.<ref>{{cite news\|first=Fiona\|last=Gartland\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0214/breaking46.html\|title=O'Brien awarded €150k in Daily Mail defamation case\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|publisher=Irish Times Trust\|date=14 February 2013\|access-date=14 February 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305161526/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/o-brien-awarded-150k-in-daily-mail-defamation-case-1.1255054\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> The case was the first time a journalist had attempted to use the honest opinion defence before a jury at the High Court since the Defamation Act 2009 became law.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0214/367770-defamation-denis-obrien/\|title=Denis O'Brien wins defamation case against Irish Daily Mail\|work=RTÉ News\|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann\|date=14 February 2013\|access-date=14 February 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305161225/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0214/367770-defamation-denis-obrien/\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, the editor-in-chief of the satirical website ''[[Waterford Whispers News]]'', [[Colm Williamson]] received a cease and desist order from O'Brien's solicitor to remove a satirical article about O'Brien.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/waterford-whispers-news-removes-article-after-letter-from-denis-obriens-solicitors-690062.html\|title=Waterford Whispers News removes article after letter from Denis O'Brien's solicitors\|date=7 August 2015~~-08-07~~\|website=Irish Examiner\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-04-~~22 April 2020}}</ref> Lawyers for O'Brien also demanded that a reprint of the story be removed from Broadsheet.ie.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|title = Denis O'Brien lawyers demand removal of broadsheet.ie article\| newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] \|url = http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/denis-o-brien-lawyers-demand-removal-of-broadsheet-ie-article-1.2310440\|access-date = 8 August 2015}}</ref> Waterford Whispers News subsequently removed the article. <ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news \|title=Waterford Whispers removes article after Denis ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien threat \|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/waterford-whispers-removes-article-after-denis-o-brien-threat-1.2309298 \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times \|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, O'Brien began an action for defamation against the [[Business Post\|Sunday Business Post]] over articles published in the newspaper in March 2015.<ref>{{Cite journal\|last=O'Donnell\|first=Orla\|date=5 February 2019~~-02-05~~\|title=Denis O'Brien suing Sunday Business Post for defamation\|journal=RTÉ News\|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2019/0205/1027717-obrien-sbp-court/\|language=en}}</ref> The articles, which centred around a confidential PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report given to the government in November 2008 on the exposure of Ireland's banks in 2008, identified O'Brien as being among the 22 biggest borrowers from Irish banks in 2008.<ref name=":3Loses defamation">{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/denis-o-brien-loses-defamation-case-against-sunday-business-post-1.3811041\|title=Denis O'Brien loses defamation case against Sunday Business Post\|last=Carolan\|first=Mary\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-04-~~12 April 2020}}</ref> O'Brien claimed the articles defamed him and injured his reputation and also alleged malicious publication.<ref name=":3Loses defamation" /> The jury found in the defendant's favour and [[Bernard Barton (judge)\|Justice Barton]] dismissed the case with an order for costs against ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien.<ref name=":3Loses defamation" /><ref>{{Cite journal\|last=O'Donnell\|first=Orla\|date=1 March 2019~~-03-01~~\|title=Denis O'Brien loses defamation action against SBP\|journal=RTÉ News\|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2019/0301/1033697-defamation-case/\|language=en}}</ref> ==Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) debt== Through the acquisitions of Siteserv and Topaz Energy, O'Brien at one time held hundreds of millions of Euros in debt from the state-owned [[Irish Bank Resolution Corporation\|IBRC]]. In February 2013, the IBRC went into liquidation, and shortly thereafter, O'Brien asked for an extension to repay an outstanding €320m in loans. O'Brien claimed that he had previously received verbal confirmation for a loan extension from former IBRC CEO Mike Aynsley, but Aynsley's position was terminated when the bank went into liquidation.<ref name="IBRC-RTE20150617a">{{cite web\|date=17 June 2015\|title=Denis O'Brien sought more time to repay IBRC loans, citing an alleged verbal agreement with bank's former CEO\|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2015/0617/708780-obrien-sought-more-time-to-repay-ibrc-loans/\|access-date=17 June 2015\|website=RTÉ\|location=Dublin}}</ref> The matter became public in May 2015, when [[Teachta Dála\|TD]] [[Catherine Murphy (politician)\|Catherine Murphy]] attempted to raise it in the [[Dáil Éireann]].<ref>{{cite news\|date=27 May 2015\|title=Deputy Murphy Is Out Of Order\|url=http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/27/deputy-murphy-is-out-of-order/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530130838/http://www.broadsheet.ie/2015/05/27/deputy-murphy-is-out-of-order/\|archive-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> According to Murphy, O'Brien allegedly wrote to the IBRC's special liquidator, Kieran Wallace, seeking the repayment terms he had verbally secured from Aynsley; both Aynsley and O'Brien denied the claims.<ref name="IBRC-IT01a">{{cite news\|author1=Barry O'Keeffe\|author2=Cliff Taylor\|author-link2=Cliff Taylor (journalist)\|date=28 May 2015\|title=Catherine Murphy makes Denis O'Brien claims in Dáil\|newspaper=[[Irish Times]]\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/catherine-murphy-makes-denis-o-brien-claims-in-d%C3%A1il-1.2229946\|access-date=3 June 2015\|quote=O'Brien says information was false and claims were an abuse of Dáil privilege ... Ms Murphy has previously claimed Mr O'Brien had written to IBRC's special liquidator Kieran Wallace seeking the same terms IBRC had allowed him, which was to "pay off his own loans in his own time at low interest rates". The sale of Siteserv to Mr O'Brien has become embroiled in controversy and is the subject of a formal review by the IBRC's liquidator. The terms under which the company, which carries out a wide variety of services, including water meter installation, was sold are part of that review. Separately, Mike Aynsley, the former chief executive of IBRC, released a lengthy statement, taking issue with other comments by Ms Murphy, who was moving a Private Members' Bill through the Dáil. The Bill's aim is to permit the Comptroller & Auditor General to investigate the Siteserv sale and other IBRC transactions.}}</ref> Line 123 ⟶ 122: ===RTÉ injunction=== In 2015, O'Brien and Kieran Wallace, the special liquidator who oversaw the liquidation of IBRC, successfully applied for an [[injunction]] in Ireland's [[High Court (Ireland)\|High Court]] preventing RTÉ from airing a report about his receipt of a low interest rate on loans from the IBRC.<ref name="greenslade_29052015">{{cite news\|date=29 May 2015\|title=Ireland's media silenced over MP's speech about Denis O'Brien\|work=The Guardian\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/may/29/irelands-media-silenced-over-mps-speech-about-denis-obrien}}</ref> Justice Donald Binchy, the High Court judge who granted the injunction, said that the public did not have the right to see confidential banking information of IBRC customers, and that RTÉ had failed to prove that the terms of the loan were handled improperly by the IBRC.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Duffy\|first=Rónán\|title=Here's why RTÉ's news story about Denis O'Brien was blocked by the courts\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/denis-o-brien-rte-2139278-Jun2015/\|access-date=~~2020-10-~~14 October 2020\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=3 June 2015 \|language=en}}</ref> After the judgment, several media outlets reported that Catherine Murphy had spoken, but did not provide any quotes or clips from her speech.<ref name="greenslade_29052015" /> ''The Independent'', owned by Independent News & Media, of which O'Brien then held a significant interest, reported, "Mr. O'Brien successfully stopped RTÉ from broadcasting" details about O'Brien's finances that Murphy had raised in the Daíl.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Ryan\|first=Philip\|date=29 May 2015\|title=Murphy uses Dáil privilege to raise O'Brien finances\|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/murphy-uses-dil-privilege-to-raise-obrien-finances-31262558.html\|website=The Independent}}</ref> Several Irish media outlets ignored the injunction by publishing Murphy's comments or referring to their publication on the [[Oireachtas]] website.<ref name="IBRC-IT02a">{{cite news\|author1=Fiach Kelly\|author2=Fiona Gartland\|date=30 May 2015\|title=Oireachtas sources believe Catherine Murphy did not break Dáil rules\|newspaper=[[Irish Times]]\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas-sources-believe-catherine-murphy-did-not-break-d%C3%A1il-rules-1.2231523\|access-date=3 June 2015\|quote=Independent TD did not abuse privilege when commenting about Denis O'Brien ... It is an unprecedented development that the mainstream media have been prevented from publishing privileged remarks in the Dáil due to the threat of legal action. ...Ms Murphy's comments in the Dáil were published on the Oireachtas website, and it is understood neither Mr O'Brien nor his representatives have contacted Oireachtas authorities. ...It is understood the application was contemplated in relation to the publication by the website Broadsheet.ie of the full statement made by Ms Murphy in the Dáil about Mr O'Brien's finances. It was contacted by solicitors on Thursday and asked to remove the post, claiming it was in breach of the High Court order in O'Brien v RTÉ. The site was given a deadline of 7pm, but did not remove the post.}}</ref> Line 129 ⟶ 128: In mid-June 2015, Justice Binchy ruled that most of RTÉ's report on Denis O'Brien's financial relationship with the IBRC could be published.<ref name="IBRC-RTE20150617b">{{cite web\|date=17 June 2015\|title=Court rules most of O'Brien report can be broadcast\|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0617/708759-obrien-rte/\|access-date=18 June 2015\|website=[[RTÉ]]\|quote=Lawyers for Mr O'Brien said they were no longer opposing the publication of the script of the proposed report by RTÉ's Business Editor David Murphy. However, IBRC continued its objections to those parts of the script it said referred to legal advice. RTÉ agreed that one paragraph of the script should not be published, but argued that the issue of legal advice was already in the public domain due to remarks made by [[Pearse Doherty]] in the Dáil. Judge Binchy ruled there was a difference between what Doherty said in the Dáil and what was in the script and ruled the paragraph objected to by IBRC should not be published.}}</ref> On 17 June 2015, RTÉ published what it called "a curtailed version" of the story, claiming that two paragraphs of the original story could not be printed because they were still covered by the High Court's injunction. The article was accompanied by a timeline of events between February and June 2013.<ref name="IBRC-RTE20150617a" /> O'Brien defended the injunction in an ''Irish Times'' op-ed piece, stating that he had been shocked that somebody took confidential files from a bank, altered them, and then leaked them to the press. He claimed to have been vilified by enemies, competitors, politicians, and others for trying to defend his privacy.<ref name="OBrien-IT03a">{{cite news\|author=Denis O'Brien\|date=2 June 2015\|title=Denis O'Brien: 'I have never experienced this level of hatred'\|newspaper=[[Irish Times]]\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/denis-o-brien-i-have-never-experienced-this-level-of-hatred-1.2233858\|access-date=3 June 2015\|quote=What shocked me most of all was that someone would take files from a major Irish bank, tamper with them and leak them to RTÉ. ... Many decent people who had loans transferred to Nama, or had loans with Anglo Irish Bank/IBRC were thrown to the wolves. ...I have known people who took their own lives, people who lost everything including their homes and their marriages. Also, many people who have had nervous breakdowns. The toll all this has taken on the "community" that makes up our country is quite shocking. I think it is regrettable that there is such a feeding frenzy to spread rumours and selectively leak information to point- score, challenge a competitor or simply do somebody down. It is done behind the cloak of secrecy and anonymity and the principle that "my enemy's enemy is my friend". Social media being used for this purpose is crowded with cowards. At a particular point in time when foreign multinationals were at their most nervous about their deposits in Irish banks I decided to be contrarian. I took a decision that Digicel would repatriate its cash deposits from US banks amounting to more than $600 million and place them with two Irish banks as a vote of confidence. Both banks asked my permission to tell a small number of foreign clients of this decision to help stop further outflows and this was granted. At that time, and subsequently, I was talking up Ireland internationally as a recovery story. I wanted to make a significant financial gesture of support at home. This was to show solidarity with Ireland but also to support the efforts of Minister for Finance Michael Noonan in stabilising the Irish banks and slow future outflow of deposits. ...<br/><br/> I have been dragged into a media frenzy because of RTÉ's attempts to publish my private bank details and Deputy Murphy's desire to distort them. I have never experienced the level of abuse, venom and hatred resulting from taking a stand to protect privacy in relation to my financial affairs.}}</ref> ===IBRC Commission of investigation === {{main\|IBRC commission of investigation}} On 10 June 2015, a [[Commission of investigation (Ireland)\|Commission of investigation]] was established to inquire into IBRC transactions that lost €10 million or more between 21 January 2009 and 7 February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Ryan\|first=Órla\|title=After several rows, Sinn Féin votes against IBRC inquiry -– but it's still happening\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ibrc-debate-dail-2152893-Jun2015/\|access-date=~~2020-10-~~14 October 2020\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=10 June 2015 \|language=en}}</ref> The commission was initially chaired by retired High Court Judge [[Daniel O'Keeffe (judge)\|Daniel O'Keeffe]], but in July 2015, Judge Brian Cregan replaced Judge O'Keeffe as the commission's chair and sole member.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=McDonal\|first=Dearbhail\|date=9 September 2015\|title=Family first as High Court president to retire early\|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/family-first-as-high-court-president-to-retire-early-31515664.html\|access-date=14 October 2020~~-10-14~~\|website=The Independent\|language=en}}</ref> The terms of the commission were updated in 2016 to focus first on IBRC's sale of Siteserv to O'Brien in 2012, based on claims by TD Catherine Murphy in the [[Dáil Éireann\|Daíl Éireann]]; Murphy was asked to appear before the commission in February 2019, several months after criticising the amount of time it had taken the commission to complete its inquiry, but as of May 2019, she had not made herself available for testimony.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Carswell\|first=Simon\|date=11 May 2019\|title=Siteserv inquiry seeks to compel Catherine Murphy to appear over deal claims\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/siteserv-inquiry-seeks-to-compel-catherine-murphy-to-appear-over-deal-claims-1.3888210\|access-date=14 October 2020~~-10-14~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=McGee\|first=Harry\|title=TD who raised issue of Siteserv sale to Dáil criticises inquiry's progress\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/td-who-raised-issue-of-siteserv-sale-to-d%C3%A1il-criticises-inquiry-s-progress-1.3733425\|access-date=~~2020-10-~~14 October 2020\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> In November 2019, Murphy announced that she ~~wouldn't~~would not appear before the commission because she was concerned that she would be required to reveal the source of her information.<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|last=Horgan-Jones\|first=Jack\|title=Catherine Murphy will not appear at Siteserv inquiry\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/catherine-murphy-will-not-appear-at-siteserv-inquiry-1.4091192\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en}}</ref> In September 2022, the commission released its final report on its investigation into the sale of Siteserv. The report stated that while the sale was ~~“carried~~"carried out in good faith,”" it was ~~“based~~"based on misleading and incomplete information.”" However, the report went on to say that there was no evidence that ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien received favourable interest rates from the bank, as alleged by Catherine Murphy. It also stated that ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien was not at fault for going on a trip with Robert Dix, and there was no evidence to support the claim that ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien had an unduly close or unethical relationship with senior IBRC executives. <ref>{{Cite web \|last=Phelan \|first=PAUL HOSFORD and Ciara \|date=7 September 2022~~-09-07~~ \|title=Siteserv sale carried out 'in good faith' but based on 'misleading and incomplete information' \|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40956572.html \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|website=Irish Examiner \|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite ~~journal~~web \|date=7 September 2022~~-09-07~~ \|title=Report finds Siteserv deal 'tainted by impropriety' \|website=[[RTÉ.ie]] \|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0907/1321043-siteserv-commission-of-inquiry/ \|language=en}}</ref> ==Recognition== O'Brien received an honorary [[Doctor of Law]]s degree from his alma mater, UCD, in 2006.<ref name="HonDeg_UCD"/> In 2019, the Irish-US Council awarded O'Brien the 2019 Award for Outstanding Achievement for his work building bonds between Ireland and the United States.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=McCarthy\|first=Justine\|title=Irish-US Council award for Denis O'Brien\|newspaper=[[The Times]]\|language=en\|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/irish-us-council-award-for-o-brien-vrrm0hhz7\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> ==Personal life== In August 1997, O'Brien married Catherine Walsh, who helped Communicorp expand into the Czech Republic and who earlier was the head of marketing for Independent Radio Sales.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-man-who-makes-millionaires-26126345.html\|title=The man who makes millionaires\|website=independent\|date=15 January 2000 \|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020}}</ref> The couple have four children.<ref name="~~carlos_slim~~Flair" /> One of his three sisters is the artist [[Abigail O'Brien]], President of Irish arts body, the [[Royal Hibernian Academy]], for ~~2018−2023~~2018–2023.<ref name="Phoenix_Nov18">{{cite news \|title=High Society -– Abigail O'Brien's election \|work=[[The Phoenix (magazine)\|The Phoenix]] \|issue=November 2018 \|date=1 November 2018}}</ref> === Sponsorships and causes=== In June 2000, O'Brien set up the Iris O'Brien Foundation, named after his mother, through which he coordinates many of his philanthropic efforts,<ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/questioning-o-brien-s-charity-motives-clearly-rankles-1.2810940\|title=Questioning O'Brien's charity motives clearly rankles\|last=Murtagh\|first=Peter\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/04/03/obrien-foundation-gave-e5-5-million-last-year/\|title=O'Brien foundation gave €5.5 million last year\|last=Lake\|first=Howard\|date=3 April 2017~~-04-03~~\|website=UK Fundraising\|language=en-GB\|access-date=25 February 2020~~-02-25~~}}</ref> and has supported multiple charities and campaign groups, including the human rights group ''Front Line Defenders''.<ref name="DOB_sr_funeral_IT" /> Front Line Defenders was co-founded by O'Brien in 2001, to help protect human rights defenders globally, and O'Brien remains its chairman {{as of\|2021\|lc=y}}.<ref name="FLD_BoD_DOB">{{cite web \|title=Board of Directors \|url=https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/board-directors \|website=Front Line Defenders \|date=24 October 2018 \|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> O'Brien supported the [[2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games]], for which he was the chairman of the Games Organising Committee and later the Chairman of the Council of Patrons.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=O'Brien sports Special Olympics deal\|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/obrien-sports-special-olympics-deal-26110522.html\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=independent\|date=31 July 2000 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Council of Patrons\|url=https://www.specialolympics.ie/WHOWEARE/COUNCILOFPATRONS.aspx\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601172309/https://www.specialolympics.ie/WHOWEARE/COUNCILOFPATRONS.aspx\|archive-date=1 June 2015\|publisher=Special Olympics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|date=~~2012-04-~~25 April 2012\|title=Denis O'Brien, a billionaire with a mission not just to make money-- Irish businessman praised by Clinton, NY Times, seeks to make a difference\|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/niallodowd/denis-obrien-a-billionaire-with-a-mission-not-just-to-make-money-irish-businessman-praised-by-clinton-ny-times-seeks-to-make-a-difference-148850615-238129401.html\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=Irish Central\|language=en}}</ref> In 2004, O'Brien helped to establish the Digicel Foundation, which has funded thousands of projects in the Caribbean and Pacific.<ref name="FLD_BoD_DOB"/> As of 2012, O'Brien was a member of the United States board of [[Concern Worldwide]], a humanitarian aid organisation.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=4 December 2012~~-12-04~~\|title=Irish Power and Irish Concern: Denis O'Brien\|url=https://irishamerica.com/2012/12/irish-power-and-irish-concern-denis-obrien/\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=Irish America\|language=en-US}}</ref> O'Brien has worked with the [[Clinton Global Initiative]] (CGI). After [[2010 Haiti earthquake\|the 2010 Haiti earthquake]], O'Brien worked with CGI's Haiti Action Network and the Digicel Haiti Foundation to help rebuild the [[Marché en Fer\|Iron Market]] in [[Port-au-Prince]].<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Strom\|first=Stephanie\|date=6 January 2012~~-01-06~~\|title=A Billionaire Lends Haiti a Hand\|language=en-US\|work=The New York Times\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/business/digicels-denis-obrien-helps-rebuild-haiti.html\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="19022010 Silicon Republic">{{cite news\|date=19 February 2010\|title=Haiti names Denis O'Brien goodwill ambassador\|publisher=Silicon Republic\|url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/15316/comms/haiti-names-obrien-goodwill-ambassador\|url-status=dead\|access-date=19 February 2010\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224233933/http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/15316/comms/haiti-names-obrien-goodwill-ambassador\|archive-date=24 February 2010}}</ref> In 2010, O'Brien was named a [[goodwill ambassador]] for the city of [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]], by Mayor [[Jean Yves Jason]], who cited O'Brien's help with disaster recovery efforts after the earthquake.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=~~2010-02-~~19 February 2010\|title=Haitian honour for Digicel boss\|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100219/lead/lead4.html\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020\|website=jamaica-gleaner.com\|language=en}}</ref> In 2012, O'Brien received a Clinton Global Citizen Award from former U.S. President Bill Clinton, in large part due to his disaster relief efforts in Haiti.<ref name=":0Clinton" /> He also contributed to building 50 primary and secondary schools in the 18 months following the earthquake.<ref name="O'Brien Honoured In Haiti" /><ref name="Irish Central">{{cite web\|date=8 June 2015\|editor=O'Shea, James\|title=Clinton's close friend Denis O'Brien battles massive criticism in Ireland\|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/Clintons-close-friend-Denis-OBrien-battles-massive-criticism-in-Ireland.html\|access-date=14 March 2016\|publisher=Irish Central}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ~~news~~magazine\|last=Padgett\|first=Tim\|date=9 August 2010~~-08-09~~\|title=Answering the Call\|language=en-US\|~~work~~magazine=Time\|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2007286,00.html\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|issn=0040-781X}}</ref> In September 2016, then [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]] presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] sent a campaign email criticising Hillary Clinton's relationship with O'Brien, about which O'Brien declined to comment.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=29 September 2016\|title=Trump attacks Clinton over links to O'Brien\|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0928/820019-trump-clinton-obrien/\|website=RTE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|last=O'Carroll\|first=Sinead\|title=Donald Trump has launched an attack on Hillary Clinton over her links to Denis O'Brien\|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/denis-obrien-donald-trump-3001305-Sep2016/\|access-date=6 July 2020~~-07-06~~\|website=TheJournal.ie\|date=29 September 2016 \|language=en}}</ref> In 2015, O'Brien established a fully-funded fellowship for Irish students to receive an MBA degree from Boston College.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=~~2015-04-~~11 April 2015\|title=Denis O'Brien establishes scholarship for Irish nationals to study business at Boston College\|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/education/Denis-OBrien-establishes-scholarship-for-Irish-nationals-to-study-business-at-Boston-College.html\|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|website=IrishCentral.com\|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=MBA Fellowship Created for Irish Students\|url=https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/bcnews/news-archive/2015/news/mba-fellowship-created-for-irish-students.html \|first1=Jack \|last1=Dunn \|date=Apr 9, 2015 \|access-date=7 June 2021~~-06-07~~\|website=Boston College \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812112515/https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/bcnews/news-archive/2015/news/mba-fellowship-created-for-irish-students.html \|archive-date= Aug 12, 2021 }}</ref> O'Brien has also been a member of the [[Trilateral Commission]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=THE TRILATERAL COMMISSION\|url=http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_10-11_2.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111170153/http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_10-11_2.pdf\|archive-date=11 November 2011\|publisher=European Group list at Trilateral website}}</ref>{{Citation needed\|date=July 2020}} O'Brien donated €2,500 to the campaign of [[Independent politician\|independent]] candidate [[Mary Davis (activist)\|Mary Davis]] for the [[2011 Irish presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news\|last1=O'Halloran\|first1=Marie\|last2=Cullen\|first2=Paul\|date=1 October 2011\|title=Campaigns to cost up to €350,000, say candidates\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1001/1224305088913.html\|access-date=1 October 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305152109/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/campaigns-to-cost-up-to-350-000-say-candidates-1.611291\|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> ===Wealth and residences=== As of February 2020, ''[[Forbes]]'' estimated O'Brien's wealth to be approximately $3.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/denis-obrien/\|title=Denis O'Brien\|website=Forbes\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020}}</ref> ~~Some time~~Sometime after his purchase of Quinta do Lago in 1998, but before Esat Telecom's sale to BT in 2000, O'Brien sold his home in Dublin and established a primary residence in [[Portugal]].<ref name=":1Stratagem">{{Cite ~~web~~news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/denis-o-brien-saves-63m-in-tax-stratagem-1.343993\|title=Denis O'Brien saves €63m in tax stratagem\|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times\|language=en\|access-date=~~2020-02-~~25 February 2020}}</ref> Media reports suggested that the move was spurred by a then-existing exemption to [[capital gains tax]] in the Irish-Portuguese tax treaty, which reportedly would have saved O'Brien about €63 million in taxes.<ref name=":1Stratagem" /> However, in 2013, the High Court officially ruled that ~~O’Brien’s~~O'Brien's home was Quinta de Lago, Almancil, Portugal, and not Ireland, in the 2000/2001 tax year. <ref>{{Cite ~~web~~news \|title=Court ruling saves Denis ~~O’Brien~~O'Brien €57 million in tax \|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/court-ruling-saves-denis-o-brien-57-million-in-tax-1.1518621 \|access-date=~~2022-10-~~13 October 2022 \|~~website~~newspaper=The Irish Times \|language=en}}</ref> While considering the flotation of Digicel on the [[New York Stock Exchange]], a March 2006 filing to the [[Companies Registration Office (Ireland)\|Companies Registration Office]] (CRO) listed O'Brien's residential address as [[Sliema]], [[Malta]]. ==Further reading== Line 177 ⟶ 176: {{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Denis}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:~~People~~Businesspeople from Cork (city)]] [[Category:People from Ballsbridge]] [[Category:20th-century Irish ~~people~~businesspeople]] [[Category:People educated at The High School, Dublin]] [[Category:Alumni of University College Dublin]] [[Category:~~Boston~~Carroll ~~College~~School of Management alumni]] [[Category:21st-century Irish ~~people~~businesspeople]] ~~[[Category:Irish businesspeople]]~~ ~~[[Category:Businesspeople from County Cork]]~~ [[Category:Irish billionaires]] [[Category:Irish chief executives]]