Ireland

Tributes to wife of Taoiseach Charles Haughey following St Patrick's Day death

Maureen Haughey pictured with her son Seán, a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay North
Maureen Haughey pictured with her son Seán, a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay North Maureen Haughey pictured with her son Seán, a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay North

THE wife of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey has died with tributes describing her as a "tower of strength" for her late husband.

Maureen Haughey, who was the daughter of former Taoiseach Sean Lemass, died on Friday aged 91. It is understood she suffered a short illness before her death at Dublin's Mater Hospital.

Tributes to Dubliner Ms Haughey were led by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who called her a "wonderfully warm, dignified and intelligent woman".

"She was a tower of strength to her late husband former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and loving daughter of former Taoiseach Seán Lemass. Throughout her distinguished life she witnessed some of the major turning points in Irish history," he said.

"Maureen was a very active woman and kept a keen interest in the evolution of Irish society. She was a patriot who loved her country and retained a key interest in the development of Irish society.

"Her life was steeped in the cause of Irish republicanism and her family contributed significantly to its advancement. She was a loving and caring mother and our sympathies go to her family, Eimear, Conor, Ciaran, and Seán."

Maureen was widowed when Charles Haughey, who served three terms as Taoiseach between 1979 and 1992, died in 2006 after a battle with prostate cancer.

Their marriage survived claims by Sunday Independent columnist Terry Keane that she had a 27-year-long affair with Haughey, selling her story to the British Press and famously discussing her claims on RTE’s Late Late Show.

Maureen and Charles' son Seán, a Fianna Fáil TD for the Dublin Bay North constituency and a former Lord Mayor of Dublin, announced his mother's death on St Patrick's Day, stating she passed away peacefully, adding: "A truly remarkable woman. May she rest in peace."