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BEN DUNNE SAYS he has “no regrets” when asked about the payments he made to Charles Haughey.
Speaking to Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Dunne said “I have no regrets about things that came out that were true and what came out about Haughey was true.
“I gave him money but why have a regret”.
You gotta get on with life and live your life and do the best you can, you can’t undo the past.
He said that he’s not corrupt and that people who do business with him know that.
“I know I’m not corrupt and I am in business today and I’ve a lot of people doing business with me
“I know that if they thought I was corrupt, they wouldn’t be dealing with me.”
Politics
The businessman joked about how his past means that politicians don’t ask him for money.
“The great thing about all of this is that none of them ask me for money, I must be the only businessman in Ireland.
They run a million miles away from me. Brown envelopes, money and Ben Dunne…it’s about the worst ingredient if you want to win a seat in an election.
Ransom
Ben Dunne was kidnapped in 1981 and reports at the time suggested IR£1.5 million was paid in a ransom and that it was done at the request of Charles Haughey to Patrick Gallagher.
Ben said: “The amount I think, I know, in my opinion is wrong and Charlie Haughey and Patrick Gallagher had nothing to do with the ransom being paid whatsoever, in my opinion, and I think I would have an idea if they did had”.
Speaking about the kidnapping, Dunne said “I remember when they let me go but I didn’t know whether I was free or not.
“I was left in a graveyard in Cullyhanna, and the first thing I did was I got in to a grave.
I looked up and I could see the stars in the sky and next thing I immediately said ‘Good God they could back here and shoot me, throw the earth in, never to be found again’ so I crawled out of that grave.
Reports of attempted suicide
In 1992 Dunne was arrested for cocaine possession and soliciting while on a golf holiday in Florida.
Dunne said “The one thing I didn’t want to do was take my life in Florida but I can’t stop the papers from writing it”.
He did say that “There were times when I just didn’t want to be Ben Dunne, or thought I could be Ben Dunne and forget about being Ben Dunne for that space of time.
I always wanted to be who I am but I didn’t want to be responsible for myself all the time. Now I am responsible for myself all of the time.
The full interview with Miriam O’Callaghan will be on Sunday with Miriam.
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One decent man is that man Mr Dunne.Very generous to his employees at Dunnes Stores when he was at the helm, unlike now when the money is still rolling in but the wealth is no longer shared.
Ben there. Dunne that. Bought the Taoiseach.
He was very generous to other people as well, very generous to one on particular .
Monty I hope you have the TM on that, that’s excellent!
They fear his honesty, don’t want to be named as a generous receiver of gifts and you know longer buy one get one free these days?
Why are the media letting those that ruined our country and landed us with huge insufferable taxes off the hook and still banging on about petty Individual crimes…. Report on those that bankrupt us. Or come out and say why you aren’t.
Montys.. Phenomenal.
I have a lot of time for Ben Dunne he fecked up in the past but came back put the head down and went to work- created a lot of jobs even in recessionary times. I wish him well.
Howeya Wardy!
He had the decency to apologise to Mary Manning a few years ago.
Typical Irish love the irish rogue bullshit from all above. The man is complicit in the corruption that we are experiencing now and for the future. Cop the fcuk on you idiots.
Maybe you should do something about it Andrew instead of name calling!!
i did business with ben dunne in the 80′s and he was an outstanding person in every regard and ALWAYS paid in full and on time …… tough and fair and a brilliant retailer
Coke?
Is the woman in the photo Miriam O’ Callaghan?!
Given that the article is based on an interview he gave to Miriam, I would say it’s quite likely that, yes, it is Miriam in the photo.
Well she looks 20 years older than she normally looks!
Sure none of us are as young as we once were.
I defo still would.
Sorry but she looks granny old in that photo, no thanks.
No I’m fairly sure it’s Miss Panti …..
I would. She has 8 kids so she is partial to it. Fair play to her!
I was wondering was it actually Miriam or was it Ben Dunnes wife, Jesus she’s put on ten years in the last coupl of months!
Ah lads stop now! She is a fine looking woman and if my wife is as fit as her in 15 years time I’ll be a fairly happy camper. She has always been at the top of my cougar list!
I saw Miriam a few weeks ago when I was in the audience of Prime Time. She’s not so attractive in the flesh. Granny like. She had to be centre of attention when off camera & flirting with anyone who’d bid her the time of day. No longer a fan…. And god help David McCullagh
I dont like that he buys politicians. I also dont like that politicians can be bought.
I suppose he done us some service by being open about it. And now we know how rotten things are. What can i say about Ben. Thanks Big Fella.
Oxford Dictionary definition of corruption “Dishonest”.
All our politicians are corrupt — Rabbit is the one who admits it.
@mindfullirish you must be talking about Fianna Fail ,Fianna Gael and The Gilmore party for sure.
Given what he said in the article, “The great thing about all of this is that none of them ask me for money, I must be the only businessman in Ireland.” this implies that all our politicians haven’t changed and all are still on the take – just not from ben Dunne.
There mightn’t be as many blown envelopes changing hands these days but there is just as much corruption out there, look at cowans latest appointment, rabbitte is one of the most corrupt of them all at the moment he is being lobbied in so many different directions at this stage he doesn’t know who is friend or who is foe.
In fairness, Ben Dunne is a far more fascinating character than his radio ad voice might suggest.
“If Ben can’t do it then it can’t be Dunne”, agh cracks me up every time, gas man.
Any chance of a line, Ben?
pathetic
Ben Dunne allegedly drove up the price for corrupt politicians.
In the pre Celtic Tiger years it was allegedly a grubby little field on the outskirts of town for a brown envelope stuffed with twenties…
Post the boom and bust it is suggested that you could have the whole country and three generations for a mere EU gilt edged pension pot, …..if your already morally bankrupt.
Makes a sad shadow of that great slogan…
Dunnes Stores Better value beats them all every day.
Driving down prices every day!
Monty, have to agree. Close the comments now we’re Dunne.
(with Stephen Kavanagh)
He gave money to Haughey then got caught trying to stick Charlie up his nose….ya couldn’t write it.
Not corrupt just a bit of a rouge Ben
Ben dunne..nice guy..runs a good gym..miriam kicks ass..id be in there
Like the proverbial snot of hot..
Two reasons why Ben Dunne can say he’s not corrupt is first because he didn’t understand the meaning oof the word and second because he’s now using the present tense.
Pure gentleman mr Dunne, he was a fabulous boss in dunnes stores
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