Haughey family angered by findings

The Haughey family has reacted angrily to the conclusions of the Moriarty tribunal, arguing that they were not supported by evidence…

The Haughey family has reacted angrily to the conclusions of the Moriarty tribunal, arguing that they were not supported by evidence.

In a statement tonight, the family contested a number of the tribunals findings, in particular those relating to Brian Lenihan, Ben Dunne and the late Mahmoud Fustok.

"We are issuing this statement because we believe that allegations of political corruption or misuse of office are unfounded on the basis of the evidence," the statement said.

"We also believe it is wrong that the Tribunal did not issue any positive findings, other than in relation to the matter of Glen Ding, relating to the fact that Mr Haughey did not do any act or make any decision to benefit persons or companies who made donations to him for the period 1979 to 1996, and which were the subject of the Tribunal's investigations for the last nine years.

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"We feel so strongly about the above points, we decided to put an extract of the submission made by the family to the Tribunal on these proposed findings into the public domain," it continued.  "We will not be making any further comment, either as a family or individually at this time."

In a submission attached to the statement, the family said Mr Haughey was never made aware before he died of the proposed findings of the tribunal. "In particular, although his dealings with the Tribunal terminated in 2001, at no stage was there any communication from the Tribunal suggesting that adverse opinions were to be made against him.

"If he had been made so aware in 2001, it would have given him an opportunity of dealing with each of those allegations and of answering them or tendering such evidence as might be useful for the Tribunal to consider."