DUBLIN, July 28 (Reuters) - Ireland's broadcasting regulator said businessman Denis O'Brien does not control an "undue" share of the country's media market with his radio interests and his 26 percent stake in Independent News & Media.
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) started a review of O'Brien's Irish media interests in May after three of his associates were appointed to the board of Independent News following a battle with the O'Reilly family, which runs the publishing group.
It said at the time the appointment of O'Brien's long-term associates gave Independent News' second-largest shareholder a "substantial interest" in the newspaper group and raised issues about his control of other media in Ireland.
O'Brien, who has a separate telecoms business and is one of Ireland's richest people, owns 44 radio stations across nine countries and the BCI has previously blocked his attempt to add Dublin's FM104 to his portfolio.
The BCI said in a statement late on Monday it was satisfied that O'Brien, who owns four Irish radio stations and has a substantial interest in a fifth, was not dominant in any of his franchise areas.
The BCI's remit extends only to O'Brien's broadcasting assets. (Reporting by Carmel Crimmins, Editing by Lin Noueihed)