Kiely breaks news to media of Haughey’s decision to resign

January 1992

IT was Kerry Senator Dan Kiely that broke the news to the nation this Thursday that the Taoiseach Charles J Haughey was to stand down as leader of Fianna Fail next week.

The 66 year old Taoiseach told his 76 Dáil colleagues, along with party Senators and MEPs at a parliamentary party meeting that he is to resign as Taoiseach and he stressed that his main priority is for an orderly and dignified departure.

Within minutes Senator Kiely left the meeting and reported to assembled news people the outcome they had anticipated from the meeting. On the lunchtime radio news, Senator Kiely outlined Mr Haughey’s resignation proposal.

At this early stage, Minister’s Gerard Collins, Mary O’Rourke and Michael Woods are expected to be in the race to replace Mr Haughey.

Former Finance Minister Albert Reynolds and Finance Minister Bertie Ahem were meeting, this Thursday to consider their position on the leadership contest.

Mr Haughey’s tenure of office as leader of Fianna Fail was in jeopardy right from the moment this month when the former Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Sean Doherty, said that Mr Haughey knew of the tapping of journalists Bruce Arnold and Geraldine Kennedy’s phones in the early ‘80s.

The junior partners in Government, the Progressive Democrats, demanded that Fianna Fail take the “appropriate action” following this disclosure and Mr Haughey’s subsequent rebuttal.

This was taken to mean that they wanted Taoiseach Charles Haughey to step down.

Elected to the Dail in 1957, Mr Haughey has maintained strong links with Kerry and has a holiday home in Inisvickillane.