Up for sale: Haughey posted on Ebay

THE race has begun to cash in on Charles Haughey memorabilia following the death of the former Taoiseach last week.

Vendors in Europe and the US have posted photographs and letters signed by the controversial politician on the eBay auction site.

A 1985 letter typed on Dáil Eireann notepaper, posted on the website on the day of Mr Haughey’s removal, has a current bid price of €650.

It was apparently sent to a fan in Co Waterford who requested signed photographs, but these aren’t included in the eBay lot.

Its London seller posted the letter on the eBay site on Thursday.

A German vendor is also selling an undated colour photograph of Mr Haughey signed: “Peter, with warmest, personal good wishes, Charles J Haughey.”

Other canny politics buffs have invited bids for second-hand copies of books on Haughey, like the 1983 best-seller, “The Boss” by Joe Joyce and Peter Murtagh.

“The Statesman: A Study of the Role of Charles Haughey in Government” by John M Feehan is also being offered for €23 by a US vendor.

“Fallen Idol: Haughey’s Controversial Career” by Irish Examiner columnist T Ryle Dwyer is being sold on eBay by a reader in Washington state.