Haughey acted illegally, claims former minister

FORMER Justice Minister Gerry Collins yesterday accused Charles J Haughey of acting “illegally” when he authorised citizenship papers for a 14-year-old Lebanese girl.

Mr Collins was giving evidence to the Moriarty Tribunal that has been investigating certificates of naturalisation to 15 foreign nationals connected to Saudi diplomat and horse breeder Mahmoud Fustok.

Former Ceann Comhairle and Fianna Fáil Health Minister, Dr John O’Connell, sponsored the applicants.

Mr Collins said he was the minister with the authority to issue the certificate, but had not done so.

Asked if he had authorised former senior civil servant Cathal Crowley to negotiate with Mr Haughey on the issue, Mr Collins said: “Most certainly not.”

There was “total opposition” in the department to granting the naturalisation to Faten Moubarak, the 14-year-old Lebanese girl.

Officials felt the application of her father, Slieman, was fraudulently obtained. As well as doubts about his Irish residency, he said he had no children and was single. He became an Irish citizen in September 1982.

Ms Moubarak was born in 1977 and was granted Irish citizenship on May 4, 1990, three days after the application was received from her father.

Ms Moubarak’s naturalisation was first mooted in 1983. Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan decided the application should not proceed. Alan Dukes adopted a similar policy when he became minister.

Mr Collins described how Dr O’Connell used his influence on Mr Haughey, who was then leading a minority government in the late 1980s.

Mr Haughey inquired of him (Collins) about Ms Moubarak’s application and asked to see what he could do “to keep O’Connell happy”.

He said he was “aghast” when tribunal lawyers told him Mr Crowley had been to see Mr Haughey.

In his evidence, Mr Crowley said Mr Haughey told him Ms Moubarak “should not be visited by the sins of her father”.

After listening to the official, Mr Haughey said: “We’ve heard this now; we know your objections. This is what we’ll do. Send the forms down here.”

Earlier, senior Justice Department official Stephen Magner described how Mr Haughey, who acted on an occasion while the Justice Minister was absent, asked about the possibility of naturalisation for “a member of the Moubarak family”.

After examining the file, which revealed “disquiet” among senior officials, he told Mr Haughey “this doesn’t look good” and that was the end of the conversation. Chairman Mr Justice Michael Moriarty adjourned the tribunal until early January.