A political storm and the infamous acronym is born

Listen | 28:27
A history of Ireland in 100 words:  2 – Gubu. Charlie Haughey, whose response to the discovery of the murderer Charles Macarthur in the attorney general’s home, in 1982, Conor Cruise O’Brien turned into the acronym. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall
A history of Ireland in 100 words: 2 – Gubu. Charlie Haughey, whose response to the discovery of the murderer Charles Macarthur in the attorney general’s home, in 1982, Conor Cruise O’Brien turned into the acronym. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall

Malcolm Macarthur’s arrest in the home of the Attorney General Patrick Connolly creates an international political storm.

Charles Haughey holds a press conference to calm things down. It leads to the creation of a phrase that will haunt him for the rest of the career.

Episode four of seven.

Listen to the most recent episodes, here. Opens in new window ]

GUBU is researched, reported and narrated by Harry McGee and edited by Enda O’Dowd.

READ MORE

Sound mix by JJ Vernon

Title music by Orakhal

Graphics by Paul Scott

OUR PODCASTS