Charles Haughey left a poisonous legacy

The jury is still out on whether Charles Haughey did more harm than good for Ireland during his long political life and, in particular, his time in power. Ryle Dwyer reads between the lines of Conor Lenihan’s assessment.

THERE is little doubt that Charles Haughey’s political career will ultimately be considered as having done more harm than good. Conor Lenihan has produced a balanced and interesting political biography of the man who was for so long seen as a close friend of his father — the late Brian Lenihan senior.

Most of Haughey’s critics ignore the good he did and merely conclude that if he did any good, it was more than offset by harm.