Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

PA Photos/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Cost of Margaret Thatcher's helicopter created headaches for govt departments

Departments conversed internally about who should pay the cost which reached more than £8,000.

WHEN MARGARET THATCHER visited Ireland in 1980, two helicopters were chartered at the cost of £8,063 to the taxpayer.

Following the receipt of the invoice from Irish Helicopters, discussions took place between the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice on whether the amount was excessive. They also debated about who should cover the cost.

The Justice Department explained it covered the cost of Air Corps helicopters from Baldonnel that were used for air security. Thatcher and her delegation, which included security personnel, were transferred to and from Dublin Castle in the chartered craft as the “single-engined helicopters of the Air Corps were not acceptable to the British for fear of engine failure”.

An internal memo shows that there were heightened security concerns because of the escalation of hunger strikes at the H-Blocks in Long Kesh.

Assistant Secretary Wally Kirwan writes:

It was clear in these circumstances that the proposed visit to Dublin of the British Prime Minister and her party, including three other members of the British Cabinet would be attended by particularly acute security risks.
In the face of these, the duration of the visit, originally envisaged as involving an overnight stay was reduced to a single day.

During the course of security discussions, he explained, consideration was given to travelling in a bullet-proof car.

“A few days before the date of the visit, Christopher Tugendhat, one of the British members of the European Commission, was the subject of an assassination attempt in Brussels, for which the Provisional IRA claimed responsibility,” he continued.

“Following this incident, the advice of the security authorities was very strongly in favour of the use of helicopters, with two being hired to allow for contingencies.”

The Taoiseach’s department took on the cost in order to keep an initial promise by Kirwan who admitted to hastily agreeing to the arrangement so as not to delay the process.

Although he conceded that the amount of the account exceeded “by a significant margin” the estimate quoted by the garda officers at the time of the talks, Kirwan said the price was “reasonable”.

The helicopters flew for a total of five hours and forty minutes during the single-day visit. The price of the flights were broken down into three categories, costing £400 per hour, £800 per hour and £1,500 per hour.

During the official State trip, the Department of the Taoiseach also incurred costs for a luncheon in Dublin Castle which ran to £3,811 for 95 guests.

Read: Haughey thought Jimmy Savile would be a good mediator for Thatcher dealings

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
31 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Foxys van
    Favourite Foxys van
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:03 AM

    Why couldn’t she just fly over on her broom

    437
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Reid
    Favourite Fergal Reid
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:05 AM

    Thatcher is an easy target for lazy commentary sometimes but that was brilliant!

    142
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Common Chimpanzee
    Favourite Common Chimpanzee
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:10 AM

    As Christy puts it, “There were some great songs from that era”

    47
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute scaldbag
    Favourite scaldbag
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:14 AM

    They knew the value of money then, 20 years later on one minister spent 250’000 euro on up dating his Dail office

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary o Barry
    Favourite Gary o Barry
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:16 AM

    Thatcher would turn in her grave if she heard these jokes,
    No wait the lady’s not for turning.

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Common Chimpanzee
    Favourite Common Chimpanzee
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:16 AM

    That’s a lot of money to spend on a date… Hope this “office”/”woman” was worth it!!!

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Dagg
    Favourite Andrew Dagg
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:46 AM

    For all you young people out there, the helicopter company was owned by Charlie Haughey’s son. So indirectly, the money was going to buy charvet shirts for that c@nt Charlie.
    At the same time he was telling us to tighten our belts.

    161
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Giles
    Favourite David Giles
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 12:02 PM

    Andrew, you are of course correct. Charlie Haughey was in fact Taoiseach at the time so the Government ‘s chartering of helicopters from his son’s Irish Helicopters company was a clear conflict of interest. The civil servants were quite right and a little brave to question the cost.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Giles
    Favourite David Giles
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 12:10 PM

    Andrew, we are wrong. Irish Helicopters was not owned by the Haugheys. Celtic Helicopters was the company founded by Charlie Haughey’s son Ciaran in 1985. It went into liquidation in 2012. Irish Helicopters is now owned by a UK company. Apologies all round.

    41
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Dagg
    Favourite Andrew Dagg
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 12:15 PM

    Mucho apologies..

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Delaney
    Favourite James Delaney
    Report
    Dec 28th 2013, 8:19 AM

    Dont worry Andrew I’m sure many people jumped 2 the same conclusion inc. Myself. The ? Now is Who Owned Irish Helecopters. No details on Irish Historical Aviation Socieity site. You would swear d only aviation event in Ireland’s History occurred in Foynes. Is the Aviation Irish Historical Socieity Grant Aided by the State ? Is it located in Kinsealy ?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Malachy Quinn
    Favourite Malachy Quinn
    Report
    Dec 28th 2013, 12:11 PM

    It’s actually run by FF affiliated people including the Brennan’s of Galway, Kiely’s of Cloghrans & Kennedy’s of Wexford. Check out the IAA Board & senior positions.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Murphy
    Favourite Paul Murphy
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:06 AM

    Charlies son Ciaran, owned Celtic Helicopters which at the time didn’t have machines with twin engines however Irish Helicopters which was partly owned by Aer Lingus did as they were involved in the support of the Kinsale gas field. The arguement about twin engine helos is still quite valid and our own Aer Corps only operate twin engime machines currently which ministers use with out thought of cost

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute knowyourplace
    Favourite knowyourplace
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:32 AM

    What a great woman, how she dealt with the slim fast terrorists was inspirational to all decent people.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Foxys van
    Favourite Foxys van
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:39 AM

    This has to be Kenneth with a another new name

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:59 AM

    Decent people hated her.

    74
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute knowyourplace
    Favourite knowyourplace
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 11:23 AM

    Like who? Her reaction to the slim fast gang was excellent she is reported to have said if she had her way those evil terrorists would be even offered food to refuse

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Foxys van
    Favourite Foxys van
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 11:26 AM

    While the whole time turning a blind eye to the terror and erosion of civil rights of Catholics
    Yea classy lady

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dwickedchicken
    Favourite Dwickedchicken
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 1:09 PM

    You obviously don’t know your place.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 1:54 PM

    Were you a baby when this woman were in power ?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Delaney
    Favourite James Delaney
    Report
    Dec 28th 2013, 8:27 AM

    Yeah how she murdered British soldiers and navy personnel and people in Ireland and Argentina for her own self gratification. How she shown no compassion to her own people North of London. How she used her access to military and police resources to rob the hearts, self esteem and self respect, of her own citizens. No No No. NO COMPASSION, NO MERCY, NO WAY.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Murphy
    Favourite Paul Murphy
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:11 AM

    The servicemen who fought will disagree with that point of view.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shawn Rahoon
    Favourite Shawn Rahoon
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 1:29 PM

    Ding Dong, the wicked witch is dead…. What a classic film :):):)

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 10:46 AM

    Should have been given the use of a wheelbarrow or swim home

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
    Favourite Ian Mac Eochagáin
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 11:27 AM

    She was probably horrified. She did, after all, pay for the ironing board in Downing Street herself.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PaulM1878
    Favourite PaulM1878
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 2:30 PM

    Didn’t Haughey’s Son own Irish Helicopters?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Red Rooster
    Favourite Red Rooster
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 3:18 PM

    Sean I think.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 3:50 PM

    Was it said at the time Haughey liked and got on well with her

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Red Rooster
    Favourite Red Rooster
    Report
    Dec 27th 2013, 3:17 PM

    Wasn’t it Haughey’s son that owned Irish helicopters?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Murphy
    Favourite Paul Murphy
    Report
    Jan 3rd 2014, 11:09 AM

    Read the above.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Delaney
    Favourite James Delaney
    Report
    Dec 28th 2013, 8:43 AM

    What did Haughey say to Thatcher when he presented her with a silver teapot ?

    Ah go on, go on, go on !

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds