The Irish times apparently doesn’t know who this mystery man is*. Well, I can reveal that it’s none other than fellow UL grad Ian Noctor who from what I recall was working with Monica Leech at the time. Given his CV it somewhat surprising that no one at the Irish Times could identify him. And I don’t believe his presence in this photo would lead anyone to think that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with Brian Cowen.
*I was tempted to say the mystery man is Brian Cowen but that was too obvious even for me.