Secrets and lies: How CJ’s spending frenzy spiralled out of control

OVER a 20-year period, Charles J Haughey went through £8.5 million.

His living expenses ran at a yearly average of £125,000 between 1980 and 1984 — when a Taoiseach’s salary was less than £47,000.

Eventually run to ground by tax officials, Mr Haughey paid £3.94m (€5 million) to settle his affairs in March 2003. He had made an interim settlement of £1.2m (€1.5m) in August 2000.