Charles James Haughey

Charles James Haughey , 1925-2006, Irish politician. A successful accountant and real estate investor, he entered Parliament as a Fianna Fáil member in 1957. After holding a succession of ministerial positions in the 1960s, he was dismissed as minister of finance in 1970 for alleged gunrunning to the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He regained his party's favor and held the ministry of health and social welfare (1977-79) before becoming prime minister (1979-81, 1982, and 1987-92). In 1992 his political career came to an end when financial and wiretapping scandals forced his resignation as prime minister. After leaving office he continued to be dogged by accusations of financial impropriety, and ultimately agreed to pay taxes and fines of 5 millions euros on money he had received in secret payments. He was also indicted on charges of obstructing justice, and an tribunal investigation reported posthumously (2006) that Haughey had accepted bribes.

Haughey, Charles James (b. 16 Sept. 1925). Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of the Irish Republic 1979–81, 1982, 1987–92 Born in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, and raised in Dublin, he studied at University College Dublin, and King's Inns. He began a career as an accountant, and joined the Fianna Fáil party in 1948, and was elected to Dáil Éireann (the Irish Parliament) in 1957. Haughey became Minister for Justice in 1961. He contested the party leadership in 1966, but withdrew in favour of Jack Lynch, under whom he became Minister for Finance in 1966. Haughey was forced to resign on 6 May 1970 after being accused of complicity in smuggling arms for militant nationalists into the Republic of Ireland. A trial for this conspiracy found him (along with Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Neil Blaney) not guilty. Haughey was re-elected to the executive of Fianna Fáil in 1972. He was Minister for Health and Social Welfare 1977–9, and succeeded Lynch as Prime Minister on 11 December 1979. Alternating in power with FitzGerald, he won a convincing victory in 1987. During this government, Ireland increased its involvement in European Community affairs, and several national boards and commissions (such as the Department of the Marine and the Independent Radio and Television Commission) were established. Criticized for his autocratic leadership style and his failure to stop the party's decline in the polls through more energetic leadership, he resigned as party leader and Taoiseach in February 1992. From 2000, Haughey was at the centre of corruption allegations involving illicit payments of US$13 million.

Haughey, Charles (1925– ) Irish statesman, prime minister (1979–81, 1982, 1987–92). A member of Fianna Fáil, Haughey entered Parliament in 1957. Dismissed from the cabinet in 1970 for alleged conspiracy in Irish Republican Army (IRA) gun-running, he was later acquitted. He retired in 1992.