Irish diplomats smuggled alcohol in furniture

IRISH diplomats in Saudi Arabia smuggled in alcohol concealed as furniture to dodge the Islamic state’s drink ban.

Department of Foreign Affairs papers from 1977-’78 show the embassy in Jeddah used an Italian company to secretly ship in cases of wine and whiskey.

The then ambassador Eamon O’Tuathail insisted cargo documents be marked “preserves or furniture” to throw police off the scent.