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The Lying Game

It may have been billed as the last stand of CHARLES J. HAUGHEY, but no-one told the man himself. Last week at Dublin Castle, having been hauled before the McCracken payments-to-politicians tribunal in an attempt to get him to finally explain his business relationship with Ben Dunne, the former Taoiseach indulged in a faintly pathetic display of obfuscating, wheedling and stalling. LIAM FAY was one of those looking on eagerly from the public gallery. This is his report.

Liam Fay, 15 Oct 1997

As Charlie s Merc sped back to Kinsealy, leaving behind a public jury that believes there is indeed much that he has decided to kinseal, the media pack turned its attention on the aged admirer who had just risked a pummelling from bodyguards to shake the hand of The Boss.

His name is Frank Harrison. He s 78, a native of County Kerry, who has lived in Fairview, in the heart of Charlie s North Dublin constituency, for over 30 years. Before today, Frank s primary claim to fame was that he is the country s oldest waiter, and has worked at the Trocadero restaurant, on Dublin s Andrew Street, for decades.

I m a Republican first, and Charlie is a Republican, declared Frank. I ve always liked Charlie Haughey, all my life. He saw them all off. Margaret Thatcher, the lot of them. He brought in great things for the old people, like the free travel. He s the greatest living Irishman.

A bespectacled reporter facetiously asked Frank if Charlie had slipped him an envelope of cash, a few quid pro quo, so to speak.

He did not, retorted Frank icily, but Charlie Haughey gave me this and I ll never forget him for it.

Frank Harrison produced his laminated OAP travel pass from his inside pocket, and proudly hoisted it in the air.

The only thing new is the history we don t know.



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