Probity was truly a victim of greed

THAT former Taoiseach Charles J Haughey was a corrupting presence at the heart of the body politic is a long-established fact, but the true extent of his debasing influence has finally come to light in the damning first report of the Moriarty Tribunal.

In a series of condemnatory findings, Mr Justice Moriarty concludes that payments received by the late Mr Haughey during his political career devalued the quality of a modern democracy. The interface between politics and business was a dismal period in recent Irish history.

The perception of Haughey as a kept man is confirmed by the assertion that the disgraced ex-Taoiseach accepted cash from a golden circle of senior businessmen, in return for favours over a 17-year period. This makes a mockery of the Haughey family rejection of the conclusions as “unfounded” and “perverse”.

In a scathing insight into the wealthy lifestyle of the Fianna Fáil leader — on a politician’s salary he owned a string of race-horses, a hideaway island off the Kerry coast, and a stately mansion in Co Dublin — the report says during that time, he was living beyond his means to the tune of £9.1 million. It is dismissive of the Haughey claim that he knew nothing about the funding because his financial affairs were handled by the late Des Traynor.

Showing the Haughey brand of hypocrisy for what it is, the judge found he had systematically raided for his own benefit £195,000 out of £265,000 raised for a life saving operation on the late Brian Lenihan, former Tánaiste and minister. How low can you go?

Further revealing his shoddy behaviour as Taoiseach, the report found he pocketed £50,000 from a Saudi businessman in exchange for an Irish passport. So much for Irish citizenship.

Politicians may argue that the information contained in the 700-page document is consigned to history. However, Mr Justice Moriarty has performed an important public service by exposing the man behind the ethos of corruption that pervaded Fianna Fáil during his time.

There is also criticism of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, party treasurer at the time, who regularly signed blank cheques, including a book full at one stage. Seen as imprudent and inappropriate, this raises further questions about his judgement, especially as the cheques were later filled in by Haughey, thus leaving the Leader’s Allowance Account vulnerable to misuse and misappropriation.

In a damning reference to Ben Dunne, one of his principal benefactors, it describes the businessman’s role as substantial. In an emotional outburst, he now complains that the report calls him a liar. In effect, that’s what the report says as it does not accept that certain payments had eluded his memory.

It is also critical of an inappropriate meeting set by Haughey between Ben Dunne and the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Seamus Paircéir, to discuss a £39 million tax claim against the family-owned company.

AIB, the country’s biggest bank, owed over £1 million by Haughey in the 1970s, is rightly criticised for taking no action to curb his mounting indebtedness.

Indeed, at a time when other customers were being hounded, it effectively gave him an indirect payment by wiping out his debt.

By any yardstick, the 700-page documentary is a deeply damaging assessment of Haughey and his “secretive” and “opaque” dealings and his failure to cooperate with the tribunal. He comes out of this report as a political crook.

It is shocking that he saw nothing wrong with receiving money from businessmen and admirers. Naturally, he saw the media as waging a concerted campaign of denigration against him.

In politics, perception is everything. Not only should our politicians be squeaky clean — they must be seen to be above reproach. Probity and morality must not be sacrificed on the altar of greed.