Mystery surrounds presidential fallout

Newly released State papers shed little light on the famous ‘thundering disgrace’ row writes Caroline O’Doherty.

MYSTERY remains over what exactly Defence Minister Paddy Donegan said to make President Cearbhall Ó Dalaigh resign in 1976 as newly released State papers refer only to the polite version of the Minister’s comments.

Donegan was reported at the time to have called the President a “thundering disgrace” but it has been widely speculated ever since that his remarks were much stronger, contained swear words and were changed for broadcast and print media.