The impact of Terry Keane's admission to a long running affair with former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.
On 14 May 1999 journalist Terry Keane appeared on 'The Late Late Show' and spoke about her 27-year affair with former Taoiseach Charles Haughey. Earlier that day she resigned from 'The Sunday Independent’, defecting to ‘The Sunday Times’ who published her memoirs over a four week period.
Aengus Fanning, editor of ‘The Sunday Independent’ admits he was not offered the scoop but,
I believe that if I had been offered it, I would not have published it.
Aengus Fanning, Terry Keane’s former editor says he and The Irish Independent news group would not be willing to pay for kiss-and-tell stories. Emily O'Reilly editor of ‘Magill’ finds this difficult to believe because,
Terry crossed that Rubicon 11 years ago in ‘The Sunday Independent’ when she started writing about Charlie Haughey thinly disguised by his pseudonym ‘Sweetie’.
Paddy Prendiville editor of 'The Phoenix' reckons the public knew about lavish lifestyles led by Charles Haughey and Terry Keane.
And yet the media did ignore it.
Aengus Fanning believes Terry Keane’s revelations are for financial reasons. Journalist Kevin O'Connor is due to publish a book about Charles Haughey exposing the long-running affair. Aengus Fanning says Terry Keane would think,
If anyone cashes in on it, it should be me.
Paddy Prendiville also feels Terry Keane is motivated by money,
Paris, racecourses, champagne, all that's gone from Charlie, and that means it's gone from Terry so that's why she dumped him, I think she's a very callous woman.
Emily O'Reilly believes the private lives of politicians should remain private unless they interfere with their public lives. Given the Moriarty Tribunal and revelations about Charles Haughey’s financial situation,
Terry Keane is actually showing us where a lot of the money went.
Ultimately Emily O'Reilly does not think the disclosures by Terry Keane will have any immediate political ramifications,
It will further sully the reputation of Charlie Haughey, but of course, we don't know what else Terry is going to reveal.
This episode of 'The Week in Politics' was broadcast on 22 May 1999. The reporter is Seán Duignan.
