Haughey’s son saw Keane reveal affair on TV ‘by chance’

THE son of controversial former taoiseach Charlie Haughey “just happened to be watching the Late Late by chance” when revelations about his father’s shock affair with gossip columnist Terry Keane were revealed.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North Central, Seán Haughey, made the admission in an indepth interview with a Sunday newspaper yesterday.

The candidate in the imminent general election said despite being close to his father he was completely unaware of the 27-year affair until Ms Keane appeared on the show in 1999.

The relationship — which included Ms Keane repeatedly referring to Mr Haughey senior as “sweetie” in her gossip columns — caused a national outcry when it emerged.

However, despite hearing “rumours” of the situation, Mr Haughey junior said the news came as a complete bolt out of the blue. “I just happened to be watching the Late Late by chance,” he explained. He said despite the revelations he continued to be close to his father. However, he never spoke to him about concerns over his private finances, which were found by the Moriarty Tribunal to have included effectively stealing the equivalent of €45m today from taxpayers, the party and his close friend Brian Lenihan senior’s medical fund to fight cancer.

“It was a very difficult time and, no, I never talked to my father about it and he didn’t talk to me about it.

“As a family we were disappointed with the findings of the chairman. I think there’s a weakness in the tribunal system in that, the chairman gives his decisions on the basis of his opinions.

“I’m not sure the tribunal got everything right,” he claimed.

While Mr Haughey junior emphasised his father’s achievements in the eyes of his supporters, he conceded the former taoiseach remains a highly controversial figure in Irish politics and society.

This situation, he argued, has contributed to his apparent non-promotion to the front bench during Fianna Fáil’s time in power.