Divisive in death... as he was in life

DEAD politicians usually receive an easy passing as old grudges and controversies are buried along with them, but in death, as in life, Charles Haughey is different.

The Dáil chamber he by turns mastered and manipulated for so long, fell silent in tribute to his memory, but earlier the air had been alive with the sound of tutting and angry mutterings from the Fianna Fáil benches as Pat Rabbitte decided not to wait for history’s verdict on the ex-Taoiseach and delivered his own.

No natural light is allowed to penetrate the chamber, but the Labour leader was determined some, at least, would fall on what he called the “dark side” of CJ’s legacy.