Seán Doherty
Encyclopedia
Seán Doherty known informally as The Doc, was a controversial Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician and former Minister for Justice.
, he was educated at national level in County Leitrim
and then at University College Dublin
and King's Inns
.
In 1965, Doherty became a member of the Garda Síochána
(Irish police force) and served as a Detective in Sligo
before joining the Special Branch
in Dublin in the early 1970s.
Doherty came from a family which had a long tradition of public service and political involvement in County Roscommon. In 1973 Doherty took a seat on Roscommon County Council
, which was vacant after the death of his father.
Doherty married Maura Nangle, who is the sister of Irish musician Carmel Gunning
. Together they had four daughters, Rachel, Cara, Leah and Evelyn. Rachel is now a councillor serving on Roscommon County Council
.
of 1977. Doherty was one of many Fianna Fáil candidates elected a TD
for the first time at the 1977 general election
.
The 'Dowra Affair': The brother of Seán Doherty's wife Maura, Garda Thomas Nangle, was charged with assaulting a Mr James McGovern, a native of County Fermanagh
, in a public house in December 1981. On the 27th September 1982, hours before the case was due to be heard in the District Court in Dowra
, a small village in northwest County Cavan
, Mr James McGovern was arrested by the Special Branch of the RUC. The case against Garda Thomas Nangle was dismissed because the principal witness, Mr James McGovern, failed to appear in court. The solicitor representing Garda Thomas Nangle was a Mr Kevin Doherty, the Minister's brother. This 'questionable' use of Garda/RUC Special Branch liaison, set up under the 1985 Hillsborough Anglo-Irish Agreement
, prevented meetings between the Garda commissioner and the RUC chief constable for almost three years.
's attempt to take over the leadership of the party. The other members were Albert Reynolds
, Mark Killilea, Jnr
, Tom McEllistrim and Jackie Fahey
.
Haughey was successful in the leadership contest
and Doherty was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice from 1979 to 1981. In the short-lived 1982 Fianna Fáil government Doherty entered the Cabinet as Minister for Justice. In this post he became involved in a series of controversies.
After Doherty left office it was revealed in The Irish Times
that he ordered the tapping of three journalists home telephones
. The newspaper also disclosed that he had been interfering in the workings of the Garda and the administration of justice for both political and personal reasons. He immediately resigned from the party; however, he rejoined in 1984. At the 1989 general election
his lost his seat in Dáil Éireann
to the independent candidate Tom Foxe
.
, but he was later elected instead to the Seanad
on the Administrative Panel and became the Cathaoirleach (Chairman) of the 19th Seanad.
in 1982. Doherty had previously denied this. Haughey denied the claim also, but was forced to resign from the government, and then resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil. Doherty then regained his seat in the 1992 general election
and held it until his retirement at the 2002 general election
.
General Hospital of a brain haemorrhage on 7 June 2005 while on a family holiday in County Donegal
. On 10 June 2005, Doherty was interred at Ardcarne cemetery in County Roscommon after a funeral mass at St Michael's Church in his native Cootehall.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician and former Minister for Justice.
Background
Born and raised in Cootehall near Boyle, County RoscommonBoyle, County Roscommon
Boyle is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by...
, he was educated at national level in County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
and then at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
.
In 1965, Doherty became a member of the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
(Irish police force) and served as a Detective in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
before joining the Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
in Dublin in the early 1970s.
Doherty came from a family which had a long tradition of public service and political involvement in County Roscommon. In 1973 Doherty took a seat on Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
, which was vacant after the death of his father.
Doherty married Maura Nangle, who is the sister of Irish musician Carmel Gunning
Carmel Gunning
Carmel Gunning is an Irish composer and musician, from Sligo, Ireland. Gunning is one of Ireland's most accomplished tin whistle players who is also known for her singing and flute playing. Gunning's rich stylised form of whistle playing and tradition stems from her homeland of Geevagh in South...
. Together they had four daughters, Rachel, Cara, Leah and Evelyn. Rachel is now a councillor serving on Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Roscommon in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
.
Political career
After serving for four years as a local representative Doherty was selected to be a Fianna Fáil candidate for the Roscommon–Leitrim constituency in general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
of 1977. Doherty was one of many Fianna Fáil candidates elected a TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
for the first time at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
.
The 'Dowra Affair': The brother of Seán Doherty's wife Maura, Garda Thomas Nangle, was charged with assaulting a Mr James McGovern, a native of County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, in a public house in December 1981. On the 27th September 1982, hours before the case was due to be heard in the District Court in Dowra
Dowra
Dowra is a small village in northwest County Cavan, Ireland. It is the first village on, and marks the most uppermost navigable point of, the River Shannon. On one side of its bridge is County Cavan; on the other is County Leitrim...
, a small village in northwest County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Mr James McGovern was arrested by the Special Branch of the RUC. The case against Garda Thomas Nangle was dismissed because the principal witness, Mr James McGovern, failed to appear in court. The solicitor representing Garda Thomas Nangle was a Mr Kevin Doherty, the Minister's brother. This 'questionable' use of Garda/RUC Special Branch liaison, set up under the 1985 Hillsborough Anglo-Irish Agreement
Anglo-Irish Agreement
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland which aimed to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
, prevented meetings between the Garda commissioner and the RUC chief constable for almost three years.
Support of Charles Haughey
In 1979, Doherty was a key member of the so-called "gang of five" which supported Charles HaugheyCharles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
's attempt to take over the leadership of the party. The other members were Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
, Mark Killilea, Jnr
Mark Killilea, Jnr
Mark Killilea, Jnr is a former Irish Fianna Fáil party politician from County Galway. In a 30-year political career, served as a Teachta Dála and Member of the European Parliament and also as a Senator....
, Tom McEllistrim and Jackie Fahey
Jackie Fahey
John "Jackie" Fahey is a former Irish politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Fianna Fáil party for over twenty five years....
.
Haughey was successful in the leadership contest
Fianna Fáil leadership election, 1979
The 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in December 1979, when Jack Lynch resigned as party leader and Taoiseach. Lynch had been party leader for thirteen years and Taoiseach for over nine years. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 7 December...
and Doherty was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice from 1979 to 1981. In the short-lived 1982 Fianna Fáil government Doherty entered the Cabinet as Minister for Justice. In this post he became involved in a series of controversies.
After Doherty left office it was revealed in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
that he ordered the tapping of three journalists home telephones
Irish phone tapping scandal (1983)
Michael Noonan revealed on 20 January 1983 that the previous Fianna Fáil government had authorised illegal phone tapping of the journalists Geraldine Kennedy, Bruce Arnold and Vincent Browne...
. The newspaper also disclosed that he had been interfering in the workings of the Garda and the administration of justice for both political and personal reasons. He immediately resigned from the party; however, he rejoined in 1984. At the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
his lost his seat in Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
to the independent candidate Tom Foxe
Tom Foxe
Tom Foxe was an Irish independent politician and Teachta Dála .Foxe was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1989 general election, when he stood as an independent candidate in the Roscommon constituency...
.
Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the elections on the same day to the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, but he was later elected instead to the Seanad
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
on the Administrative Panel and became the Cathaoirleach (Chairman) of the 19th Seanad.
End of Haughey term
In January 1992 the phone tapping scandal returned to haunt Fianna Fáil. Doherty announced at a press conference that he had shown transcripts of the conversations to Charles Haughey while Haughey was TaoiseachTaoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
in 1982. Doherty had previously denied this. Haughey denied the claim also, but was forced to resign from the government, and then resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil. Doherty then regained his seat in the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
and held it until his retirement at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
.
Death
Seán Doherty died at LetterkennyLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
General Hospital of a brain haemorrhage on 7 June 2005 while on a family holiday in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. On 10 June 2005, Doherty was interred at Ardcarne cemetery in County Roscommon after a funeral mass at St Michael's Church in his native Cootehall.
External links
- Seán Doherty's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)