Haughey, Charles James (1925–2006)

Irish politician; Taoiseach (prime minister) 1979–81, 1982, and 1987–92; leader of Fianna Fáil 1979–92. He succeeded Jack Lynch as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach in 1979, to be confronted with serious economic problems and an intensely difficult period in Anglo-Irish relations, as the UK's Thatcher government attempted to face down the IRA hunger strikes of 1980 and 1981. Haughey lost office in 1981 after an early general election and regained it for a short period in 1982. His final period of office, beginning in 1987, was mired in difficulty, and saw Haughey forced to accept coalition with the Progressive Democrats. In 1998 the Irish Director of Public Prosecutions elected to prosecute him for his alleged attempts to obstruct an earlier hearing into payments made to politicians in the 1980s.

Born in Dublin, Haughey studied law at King's Inns and University College, Dublin. He entered the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) in 1957, becoming minister for justice in 1961. In 1970, along with Neil Blaney, he was dismissed from the government by Taoiseach Jack Lynch for alleged involvement in importing arms into the country, for use by nationalists in Northern Ireland. He was subsequently acquitted of all charges.