Love him or hate him, Haughey has star power

The life of Charles Haughey, the politician so many people love to hate, is to be dramatised starring actors from the country’s latest hit crime drama.

RTÉ has announced that the headline roles in its new political drama Charlie will be played by two of Love/Hate’s most evil gangsters.

Aidan Gillen, who starred as the drug-addled crime boss John Boy, will take the title role as Charles J Haughey in the new production.

Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, who is now internationally recognised as John Boy’s successor, Nidge, will assume the role of PJ Mara.

Laurence Kinlan, who plays another Love/Hate favourite, Elmo, will also appear in the three-part feature length political drama.

The pivotal role of Terry Keane, Haughey’s mistress, will be played by Lucy Cohu.

Charlie will go into production next week and, according to RTÉ, will “chart the emergence of modern Ireland through the mesmeric figure of Charles J Haughey and his pursuit of power”.

The drama, directed by Kenny Glenaan and Charlie McCarthy, covers the period from the former taoiseach’s bid for power in 1979 and chronicles his attempts to maintain that power until his departure from politics in 1992.

Jane Gogan, head of RTÉ television drama, said: “We have a fantastic cast lined up to tell a story about one of the most intriguing characters in Irish political life.”

Filming will last for nine weeks and broadcast details will be confirmed closer to transmission.