Abbeville sale - Haughey saga still rumbles on

LOVE him or loathe him, there is no denying the intensity of public interest in the life and times of disgraced ex-Taoiseach Charles J Haughey.

Having sold Abbeville House and its surrounding lands for an estimated €40 million, it now transpires the former Fianna Fáil leader has yet to settle his tax debts with the Revenue Commissioners.

Apparently, he will use the speculated down payment from the Abbeville sale to settle his outstanding tax liabilities of €5m. Technically, he requires tax clearance before the property deal can go through.

These latest developments in the Haughey saga come just as the Revenue Commissioners are sending out an additional 43,000 letters to holders of bogus non-resident bank accounts. These were set up at a time when some of the highest in the land were blatantly indulging in tax evasion.

There is a twist of irony in the fact that part of the fine old estate where Mr Haughey led his princely lifestyle is reportedly to become a golf course, a game quintessentially based on trust.