Haughey Millions Beyond State's Grasp

national | crime and justice | opinion/analysis

Tuesday August 10, 2004 12:03

by Michael Hennigan - Finfacts

finfacts at finfacts dot ie

087 2474328

The Haugheys are laughing all the way to the bank!

The Sunday Independent reported last Sunday that the two Senior Counsel who have been investiagting the affairs of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey have each earned more than €4 million to date. Some days earlier, it was reported that Haughey's children were in line for a bonanza of €7.5 million each( €441,198 will be tax free and the remainder will be subject to gift tax of 20%- Mary Harney has argued that the rationale for the cut in the rate of inheritance tax from 40% ``is to make more things happen and to be fairer to those that generate wealth and own wealth in society'').

Haughey received €48 million for his Abbeville estate which he purchased for €250,000 in 1969. He has paid about €6.3 million in taxes and penalties up to mid 2003. The taxes were levied on the extensive money 'gifts' that have been identified. Haughey bought and maintained a property on income far beyond what he was paid as a public official. The boom in property prices allows him to pass on the proceeds to his children. Tribunal lawyers become multimillionaires while investiagting Haughey and the CAB-Criminal Assets Bureau apparently sits idly by.

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Comments (3 of 3)

C.J. Haughey - vast sums paid, spent, and capital appreciation perhaps even orchestrated!!!!

by Michelle Clarke

Wed Aug 11, 2004 00:17

michelle33 at eircom dot net

Michelle says Hello

I agree entirely with what you say. It is worth reading Vincent Browne's article in the Sunday Post last Sunday.

I like James Joyce's interpretation of the word 'MISTAKE' i.e. A PORTAL OF DISCOVERY

The ebullient Charles Haughey of extraordinary Irish Politics is a prime example of making his well reported mistakes - portals of discovery.

What is the present Government facilitating is the question I would like to put forward. I notice while I walk a lot around D4 the vacancy level of properties, particularly at weekends.

I was one of those forced to emigrate in the 1980's along with so many others. I used to return to Ireland hoping to see builders cranes along the quays and a prospect of work for my former husband.

Then I moved to Zimbabwe and I used to read the Times and bit by bit I could see the plot being hatched......the property with tax incentives, the financial services centre, the European funds for infrastructure. There was a high price to be gained by 'cowboys' if the manipulated the market correctly. But we must also realise Ireland as a country gained also. It fell into being able to market the Irish culture and draw people to Ireland again..........

This is about the platform for now. This had to be theorised, conceptualised and put into place. We had the Government with the brain power to contrive the necessary. Then a little bit of greed came to the fore again.....lets reduce taxes particularly weighted to those with money; then there was relief for those in Horse racing business, and then there was the reduction in capital gains and inheritance tax.......this created a new level to the platform.

Focus is needed now. We need to know why our homeless situation in Dublin is so bad; why the crime rate in Limerick pushes it on to the world stage for violence; why our education system is not dealing adequately for children with special needs; why there are no psychologists available in all schools - children are the future....we rely on them for our pensions, invalidity etc; why the Disabilities Bill is not in place; why there is inadequate Gardai provision; why the patient has not a more pivitol role in their own treatment particularly in the area of mental health; why we do not have a health system like in the UK or at least guaranteed free of charge primary care and free dental health;

I ask the question how many people enter in and out of Ireland thus fulfilling the tax criterion that they are in fact tax exiles! This has all kinds of implications.

I recall in the 1980's holding very strong views about people holding accounts (in secret overseas) possibly even earning minimal interest. I deemed them to be like rats of a sinking ship......they were taking what they wanted from Ireland and putting nothing back.

How different these people were from those who had emigrated and repatriated money home in the 1950's when Ireland was really strapped for funds.....making it politically vulnerable also. Many of these people live in England and other places in very humiliating conditions.

The Truth at least did 'OUT' for many of the 'Cowboys' . SHAME ON THEM.

I also wonder about the exodus of funds to buy apartments abroad. One person jumps in and the rest seem to follow. This has happened in the passed and Freddie Laker and Pan Am paid a large price. Oil is a commodity.........but if one grasps the whole issue, it is a commodity that determines markets.

Let us learn from the Flamboyant Charles J. Haughey and realise his actions did not buy health and like us all death awaits. For his children.......if they grow suffice in humanity who knows what they will contribute back to Ireland.......if they are not already of this mind. In the Church, it used to be referred to as repentance!!!!!

To the rest of the people the word Shame applies..........To people today who regard themselves as part of the world's wealthy and feel no obligation to their own country again the word is Shame. In time a conscience is bound to unveil...

To our politicians - all I can say is use your 'Vision to see the Invisible' and realise we need an ethical base to move forward from. Move from your promises of this Pledge to Action......You have the discovery......Move forward.......and treat the people of the island of Ireland with the respect they deserve.

Did you see the programme on Ernie O'Malley tonight.

We owe a debt surely to the people who provided us with the present. Let us direct our efforts to Accountability; Credibility; Humanity; Compassion ......Equity and Justice is not too much to expect.

Haughey

by Shari-Vari

Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:41

I can't believe this crook is getting a state-funeral

He was lucky he didn't get a prisoners funeral.

He cost the state too much money as it is. His remains should be sent
to a dog-food factory.

What about an Epitaph...... for Corruption ..... its impact to political culture

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics

Mon Oct 15, 2007 21:48

Shari Vari

An apt few lines......could you imagine a former Taoiseach and a prisoners' funeral......

Corruption ruminates in Ireland.......

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Haughey Millions Beyond State's Grasp

Comments (3 of 3)