The man who exposed Provos and Haughey

THE death of Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien robs us of one of the best and brightest we have had in the past century in Irish politics.

His towering intellect and power of logic brought home to many people the evil and sectarian nature of the Provisional IRA and their posturing as true republicans.

This was done at a time when it was unpopular to articulate such views and at this remove, with the acceptance of power-sharing in Stormont, the principle of consent and the removal of articles two and three from the constitution, it brings into sharp relief Dr O’Brien’s truly great contribution to Irish society.

He also warned us at an early stage of the venal and essentially corrupt nature of Charles Haughey when many people, including myself, thought this Napoleon would perform the same wonders for the economy that he had apparently performed for himself.

Only much later, when he had relinquished office, did we learn that he was a kept man.

For Haughey, Dr O’Brien coined the immortal acronym, GUBU.

May this brilliant historian, writer and political analyst — the real architect of modern Ireland — rest in peace.

Brendan Cafferty

Creggs Road

Ballina

Co Mayo