O'Malley unaware of Garda file on Haughey

The former minister for justice, Mr Des O'Malley, has said he is unaware of the existence of a Garda file on a 1970 incident in which Mr Charles Haughey sustained serious physical injuries.

Mr Haughey, then minister for finance, was unable to present the budget in April 1970 as a result of a reported fall from a horse. However, speaking on RTE's Radio's Marian Finucane show yesterday morning, the author of a forthcoming book on the former Taoiseach said the Garda had investigated an alternative explanation for Mr Haughey's injuries at the time.

Mr Kevin O'Connor told Ms Finucane that the then Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, had been told of rumours surrounding the incident and a Garda investigation had been ordered, by the then newly appointed minister for justice, Mr Des O'Malley. The Garda file was now missing, he said.

But last night Mr O'Malley, appointed minister in the wake of the Arms Crisis, said he was unaware of the existence of a Garda file on the case. "I don't know if there is a file, or what it says," he said, adding: "I have nothing else to say about this."

Mr Haughey suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, and was in hospital for a week. The budget was delivered by Mr Lynch.

ail, he said: "Before leaving his home this morning, the Minister for Finance met with an accident which has resulted in concussion. He is now in hospital and has been ordered to remain under medical supervision for some days." Mr Haughey was subsequently discovered to have a fractured skull, broken clavicle and chest injuries. The Arms Crisis developed some weeks later.

According to Mr O'Connor, the prevalence of rumours at the time was such that Mr Haughey subsequently called a press conference at Kinsealy to give his version. He said the injuries occurred when, trying to dismount form a horse at Kinsealy, he held on to a piece of drainage guttering which collapsed.

Mr O'Connor said Mr Haughey had been "nearly killed" by someone, for "a clear reason". Asked by Ms Finucane if it had been deliberate he said: "They were out to injure him, yes." Asked if the cause had been "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll", Mr O'Connor said: "No drugs."

Details of the case would be included in the forthcoming book, Sweetie, he added.

The imminent publication of the book was the reason cited by gossip columnist Terry Keane for her decision to go public on last Friday's Late Late Show about her 27-year relationship with Mr Haughey.