Adams won't be drawn on Haughey's career
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams today would not be drawn on Mr Haughey’s career, but extended his party’s condolences to the former Taoiseach’s family.
Mr Adams said: “Republicans, like everyone else on the island, will have mixed feelings on his contribution to Irish society but that is a debate for another day. Today is a time to allow his family to grieve and our thoughts are with them.”
Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey, who in 1990 opened a conference of businessmen in Belfast, which Mr Haughey addressed, described the former Fianna Fáil leader as a bogeyman for many unionists.
“He was seen as a bogey for unionists because of (the controversy about) the 1970 arms scandal,” the East Belfast Assembly member said.
“Many blamed him for contributing to the start of the provisional IRA and he will be remembered for the phrase that Northern Ireland was a failed political entity.
“His death will mark the passing of the last of the old Fianna Fáil bosses.”
Mr Empey did not meet Mr Haughey when he opened the Institute of Directors conference in Belfast, which the then Taoiseach addressed during Ireland’s presidency of the European Union.
Unionist leaders protested on the roof of the former headquarters of the Ulster Unionist Party which overlooked the Europa Hotel, where the conference was taking place.
Mr Empey recalled: “As the Lord Mayor of Belfast I was invited to open the conference, which I did, but I never met him nor was it suggested that I should meet him.
“It was a matter for the Institute of Directors who they invited but I did my duty opening the conference and in my remark, I made my political position clear that the Anglo-Irish Agreement was not on.”
