Paddy Duffy
Long-time Fianna Fail supporter who served as senior adviser and right-hand man to Bertie Ahern, writes Liam Collins
PADDY Duffy, a long time adviser to Bertie Ahern, in and out of office, died unexpectedly at Heathrow Airport last Wednesday, as the two men were on the final leg of a journey from Papua New Guinea, where they were visiting the Bougainville region ahead of an independence referendum next year.
Mr Duffy, who celebrated his 75th birthday last month, was Mr Ahern’s ‘Chef de Cabinet’ while he was Opposition leader and later became his press officer, speech writer and close adviser in Government, before his untimely resignation in 1999 over a conflict of interest that led to official criticism of both men.
“Paddy was an incredibly affable and creative person who put his heart and soul into whatever role he had,” said Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. “As ‘Chef de Cabinet’ to Bertie Ahern, while leader of the Opposition between 1994 and 1997, Pad- dy assembled a determined, hard-working and creative team that ultimately led Fianna Fail back into Government in 1999.”
Born in Athboy, Co Meath, in September, 1943, Patrick Duffy was educated by the Christian Brothers, before going to Rome where he studied philosophy for three years. He spoke four languages and, with a keen interest in music and sport, became a teacher in the Jesuit school, Gonzaga. He left to establish Gaelscoil na Cille, in Ashbourne, where he become principal and was greatly admired by parents and students.
A long-time Fianna Fail supporter, he lived in River Valley in Swords, Co Dublin, and was a voluntary worker for Mr Ahern when he was first elected to the Dail in 1977. He later joined the staff of the Department of Finance as press officer when Mr Ahern, then a rising star in the political world, was appointed to the top Cabinet post by Taoiseach Charlie Haughey. When Fianna Fail returned to power in 1997, he was appointed Mr Ahern’s Special Adviser in the Department of the Taoiseach, where his principal role was writing and co-ordinating speeches, meeting people on behalf of the Taoiseach and evaluating projects and representations that needed to be brought to Mr Ahern’s attention.
In June, 1998 at a lunch in La Stampa restaurant, Paul Dillon of lobbying firm Dillon Consultants, offered Mr Duffy a position with the firm.
In December of that year, he told Bertie Ahern he was leaving his Government post and was officially appointed a director and given a 5pc stake in the consultancy.
However, at some point, he changed his mind and said he would remain in the Taoiseach’s office for another year, without resigning his directorship.
At the time, Dillon Consultants was working for NTL which was attempting to purchase Cablelink, which it eventually did for £535m. The Fine Gael TD Alan Dukes brought Mr Duffy’s ‘conflict of interest’ to the attention of Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O’Rourke, who was overseeing the sale, who brought it to the attention of the Taoiseach. Mr Duffy said he believed the directorship had been rescinded when he changed his mind about leaving his Government post.
The matter was raised in the Dail by John Bruton, leading to Mr Duffy’s resignation on June 3, 1999. Both Mr Ahern and Mr Duffy were criticised by the Public Office Commission as a result of the conflict of interest.
Mr Duffy was also a member of the Millennium Committee set up to organise events during the celebration of the turn of the century and was lobbied for a £5m grant by the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
Despite these events, Mr Duffy was always affable and remained close to Mr Ahern in the years that followed. He acted as an intermediary between the Taoiseach and the media in the delicate personal matter of the relationship between Mr Ahern and his then girlfriend Celia Larkin.
He later became a director of a number of companies, including The Right Word, which promoted music in schools and was involved in various enterprises, including advising property developers on planning matters during the boom years.
He had heart problems going back to his time in Government and underwent triple heart bypass surgery some years ago. However, he remained active in business and on the periphery of politics and especially close to Mr Ahern. Mr Duffy celebrated his 75th birthday last month at Malahide Cricket Club, an event attended by a large number of friends from politics and business.
Mr Duffy had travelled to Papua New Guinea, where Bertie Ahern was last week confirmed as chairman of the Referendum Commission, which will oversee a vote in June next year on independence for the Bougainville province. A conflict between the region and the Government led to 20,000 deaths in the late 1990s.
The Irish-based phone company Digicel is also involved in providing phone services in Papua New Guinea.
“Mr Duffy’s career has combined an unusual mixture of business, political and cultural pursuits,” said one observer. Because of his tragic passing at Heathrow Airport, on the bus taking passengers from the terminal to the aeroplane, an autopsy is to be held early this week, before Mr Duffy’s body is released and taken back to Ireland for burial.
He is survived by his wife Margaret (Maggie) and family.