State files - Bid to rein in Haughey

THE hypocrisy of former taoiseach Charles Haughey is among the more sordid aspects of Irish political life. The sheer duplicity of his infamous admonition that as a people we were “living beyond our means” is unbelievable.

That stricture certainly applied to Mr Haughey himself. Potentially, a brilliant politician, his career was blighted by vanity as he became a kept man, willing to accept money from any wealthy businessman who cared to give it to him.

His princely lifestyle is illustrated by the latest batch of state files from the National Archives showing that within weeks of chastising the Irish people, Government officials were trying in vain to rein-in his profligacy as newly appointed Taoiseach.