The Moriarty Tribunal reveals former Taoiseach Charles Haughey spent almost £16,000 on shirts from the French company Charvet.
One of the more unusual findings from the Moriarty Tribunal is the revelation that in 1991 former Taoiseach Charles Haughey spent nearly £15,832 of taxpayers’ money on bespoke shirts from the French company Charvet. Charvet shirts can cost over £300 each and the company website states since 1838 it has been supplying shirts,
Of almost unbelievable elegance to the most demanding clientele in the world.
Charvet claim walking into their Paris shop on the Place Vendôme is an intoxicating experience.
Shirt maker David Hobbs describes Charvet shirts as,
Very exclusive top end shirts.
Tailor Louis Copeland says the difference between a cheaper variety of shirt and a Charvet shirt lies in the make-up and fit of the garment. A high end shirt will have lots of extras that make up a good shirt.
Charvet shirts are well beyond the means of most people. One man interviewed says he would usually spend £20 on a shirt for work. When asked if he would spend £300 on a shirt another man replies,
Certainly not, no.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 October 1999. The reporter is Richard Dowling.
