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Check out this short video of Charlie Haughey telling us 'we're living way beyond our means'

“I wish to talk to you this evening about the state of the nation’s affairs and the picture I have to paint is not, unfortunately, a very cheerful one.”

beggo321 / YouTube

YOU MAY REMEMBER or be familiar with the above video which is the opening 90 seconds of a famous address by Charlie Haughey to the Irish people in January 1980.

Having come to power just a month earlier, Haughey was inheriting a country sinking into a deep economic crisis.

The message he had to deliver was “not, unfortunately, a very cheerful one” as he outlined the stark reality facing government and a country spending more than it was taking in through taxation (Sound familiar?).

In fact, while he identified the problem Haughey’s government ended up increasing public spending in the following year before calling an election in 1981, a decision which saw him go into opposition for a brief period.

The Fianna Fáil leader would be in and out of the Department of the Taoiseach again throughout the 1980s before stepping down for good in 1992 under a storm of well-documented controversy. He died in 2006.

Read: Was Charlie Haughey really beaten with an iron bar on the morning of the Budget?

Read: Haughey family behind website to provide ‘factual information’ about Charlie’s career

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81 Comments
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    Mute Rory Patrick
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:33 PM

    Meanwhile Charlie was swanning off to Paris at the weekends to stock up on his favourite shirts at 250 quid a pop. Gangster.

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:44 PM

    True, but leaving aside his hypocrisy and corruption he was still right with this statement though…

    109
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    Mute Cillian32
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:00 PM

    Ahh yes FF at its finest … Bertie and Biffo on their massive pensions … And 20% of people say they will vote for this party .

    279
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    Mute Genius
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:02 PM

    Much rather see Enda’s Famous Sign the contract pri election speech.

    101
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    Mute Niallers
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:03 PM

    Try 700 to a 1000 each ..

    59
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    Mute Swanky Joe
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:07 PM

    What he meant to say was that he was living beyond his means. The original King of the DigOut.

    96
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    Mute Niall H
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:10 PM

    Is this not the same guy who bought an island for himself? I’m majorly confused ted!

    116
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    Mute thetruth
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:21 PM

    Yet no one asked how he afforded them, his country house, his antiques and the horses on his wage

    102
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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:24 PM

    CJ should get the Fran treatment….. Doesn’t deserve to rest in peace.

    66
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    Mute Ho Lee Fuk
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:39 PM

    Made his family very wealthy.Can see Enda doing the same .

    68
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    Mute stephen
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:44 PM

    It was taken out of context,but looking back on those years and at the time of that broadcast,my family didn’t have a pot to p!ss in, and we went to bed hungry most nights,but it was the last time I can say I was genuinely happy.

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    Mute Tom Dunlea
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:50 PM

    I think the traitors shirts cost 7000 £punts each. hopefully he’s warming his toes in hell

    26
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    Mute the
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    Nov 6th 2014, 12:36 AM

    No way did they cost that much .. That’s like 35 grand now .. For 1 shirt!

    2
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:40 PM

    Turned out the dear leader Charlie was living way beyond the means of the Irish people – and nothing has changed!

    278
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    Mute John Clancy
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 9:58 PM

    a legend,the liars liar,even Gerry Adams only a novice compared to the king,you couldnt believe the radio in cj’s car.only the idiotic irish public would have swallowed the mans bullshit for so long.at least we’re not so naive these days..hang on,whats this,sinn fein on course to become largest party,Gerry Adams for taoiseach..

    31
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    Mute Patrick
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    Nov 3rd 2014, 4:34 AM

    In those days his dogs kennels were better accommodation than most peoples family home

    10
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    Mute Heather Pender
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:44 PM

    I always remember radio shows discussing the speech and woman called in to share her story. She watched it in her neighbours house (as she had no tv) after feeding her children corn flakes and water for tea because she couldn’t afford milk.
    And to think that b*****d was spending money to beat the band while people couldn’t afford milk….

    272
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    Mute Alan landers
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:37 PM

    This thing was nothing but a greasy little crook, a terrible stain on the history of the country

    240
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    Mute Andy Poole
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:34 PM

    A lowlife. Brought this country to it’s knees and exported so many of our people around the world.

    226
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    Mute John
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:35 PM

    What a b*stard.

    200
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    Mute bob®
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:39 PM

    If ya want a revolution, keep showing those vids! I didn’t watch it, don’t need to.remember it from first time around! Wound is still open!

    174
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    Mute Theresa Daly
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:53 PM

    Couldn’t watch it either. Feel ill even thinking of the robbing cheating hypocrite.

    73
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    Mute Coco McDee
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:38 PM

    Only one in a long line of treachorous egotistical parasites that sold us out for their own benefit, leading right up to the present day. Politicians are pariah on society. Second water tax is an abomination designed only to satisfy the greed of others. Viva la Revolution !!

    162
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    Mute Patrick Bateman
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:09 PM

    What time is your revolution starting, Coco ?

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    Mute Ho Lee Fuk
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:41 PM

    You’re going a bit batty.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Nov 3rd 2014, 1:52 AM

    Will it be televised ?

    1
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    Mute Glen
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:36 PM

    Why even bother. Most people in 1980 hadn’t a pot to p!ss in nor a window to throw it out. Mass unemployment mass emigration and heroin…… Wish we could say we’ve come a long way.

    129
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:45 PM

    You should have liked Haughey, didnt he arm and fund the PIRA

    38
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    Mute Kate Ellen Egan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:54 PM

    I was around in the 80′s paying 45p in the £ income tax on a low wage and truly never knew what he meant by that ‘living way beyond our means ‘ statement , he must have been aiming his remarks at people in another echelon as it surely wasn’t in any circle we knew …

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:02 PM

    Glen, how old were you in 1980? Simple question as I want to know if you old enough to experience it.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:03 PM

    “Were old enough”

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    Mute Glen
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:04 PM

    Declan I was 10.

    32
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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:08 PM

    Glen, thanks for the straight answer.

    12
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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:41 PM

    I remember over half my wages going to the snouts at the time, we really just rotate our unqualified and inept ‘leaders’ every five years, we need a few more Herr Müller types.

    120
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    Mute LeakingColostomyBag
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:57 PM

    Haughey was a charlatan. An utter disgrace. If he was still alive he would be lynched. Didn’t he get a state burial the w$nker?

    114
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    Mute thetruth
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:25 PM

    Teh and barely anyone showed up

    45
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    Mute Padraig Looby
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 8:22 PM

    I think he declined the state funeral

    3
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:48 PM

    Charlie Haughey makes the current bunch of w@#*ers look like altar boys…..

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    Mute Ron North
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:52 PM

    ..and the bunch that came before them, which is pretty impressive.

    44
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    Mute gumbridge
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:47 PM

    I’d just about forgotten this bast@rd. Now I’ll have to spend the next 30 years trying to forget the oily, greasy auld bollix all over again!

    85
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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:59 PM

    I think thats a major problem with the Irish electorate.They seem to forget the past very quickly.Christ we have the likes of Noonan back in power FFS.A man who hounded sick women through the courts in the 90′s during the Hep C scandal.We continue to elect school teachers and publicans despite them having no qualifications other than being able to help people apply for medical cards and get potholes filled.Sometimes I really do believe that the people get the government they deserve.

    47
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:56 PM

    Cut public sector pensions. Make it compulsory to work like the rest of us to 65 before being able to claim. Introduce a compulsory pension contributory system for the public sector. Get rid of the guaranteed pension policy. Start cutting pay by starting at the top. That’s a start.

    72
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    Mute Pól Mag Shamhrain
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:19 PM

    Enda and Co tell us the same thing on a regular basis. Last night they dined in the most expensive hotel in Dublin and told us to pay or else. I didn’t get soaked yesterday so some overweight, underperforming fat cat/ RAT could live big off my tax. He is a parasite just like Haughey. Except Haughey from what I hear created jobs. What’s Enda’s legacy?

    67
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    Mute thetruth
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:29 PM

    Endas legacy. …being the most luckiest politician to get the top job, stumbling from one fk up to the next. Look a total gobsh/te while doing it. Oh and being completely beyond inept at his job. Also thinking bullying us will actually work(it won’t)

    57
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    Mute Jason McCutcheon
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:26 PM

    This guy was nothing more than a thief!

    61
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    Mute dB O'Neill
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:36 PM

    what is the point of ths article?

    55
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:53 PM

    A stark reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

    “You’re living beyond your means, but we, your elected representatives are awash with money… So you live in penury and we’ll claim thousands in expenses every month.”

    104
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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:48 PM

    Much like Enda on his way to a posh nosh in the Hilton last night.I’d imagine that that sort of luxury would be a once a year type of thing for most people and a once in a lifetime event for some.

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    Mute LeakingColostomyBag
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:15 PM

    I believe he’s buried on an island in an estate his family own,is that correct? For sure,if the general public had access to his grave it would be desecrated. Bertie will always be looking over his shoulder. Another gangster that lynching is too good for.

    52
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    Mute thetruth
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:26 PM

    Hes buried in sutton i think

    13
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:46 PM

    I’d be very Keane to know where else he was buried…….

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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:50 PM

    He’s buried in St. Fintan’s in Sutton, just up the hill from his mate Paddy Hillery, yet another shining example.

    11
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    Mute Philip Kenna
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:57 PM

    Smug boll#cks

    50
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    Mute Patrick Bateman
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:15 PM

    There is something about the northside and westside of Dublin that they have produced the most odious, corrupt political swine that this country has ever seen. Haughey, Ahern, Burke, Lawlor et al. In the interests of the country, voting privileges should be withdrawn from people in these areas lest they inflict more irreparable damage to the rest of us.

    36
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    Mute Pól Mag Shamhrain
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:20 PM

    Galway produced a cxxnt too. Don’t omit that.

    34
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    Mute thetruth
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:26 PM

    Ah come on Patrick, you really could do better. D- minus on the trolling effert

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:37 PM

    Micheal McDowell, Garret Fitzgerald, etc etc, all from the South side and plenty more that did lots of damage to this country, economy and society.

    13
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    Mute Joe McKenna
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:40 PM

    A well off politician with an elite lifestyle telling common folk they’ve over done it and need to roll back for the sake of the country, all while continuing with their own high society living. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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    Mute David Thomas
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 8:01 PM

    Next thing you know they’ll be taking videos with smart phones

    8
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    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:54 PM

    Not sure which is worse..Charlie living beyond our means..or the current idiot who on his first major jaunt after becoming taoiseach stated sure they all went mad borrowing..or the classic..paddy likes to be told straight…an embarrasment to behold as he had his hair ruffled..

    25
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    Mute gerbreen
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:01 PM

    A hero to both Bertie and Enda. Unique character.

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    Mute Tony Duff
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:07 PM

    He was a Fianna Failer …we are where we are….

    22
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    Mute Eggfuel
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:55 PM

    he brought in the ifsc which had been shelved by bl@#£%dy civil servants because they couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery… so what he got a couple of shirts …. the ifsc has generated millions upon millions for the Irish economy…

    21
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    Mute gerbreen
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:48 PM

    Nice shirts but with his selection of his bit on the side …. he took his punishment in fairness. As a 12 year old I was sent over to granny as my parents were off somewhere. He was on the LateLate. I made some very innocent / didnt understand comment. Jaysus got the head taken off me. He had his loyal supporters! And the other granny was a FG head.b

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    Mute Martin Posters Moore Street
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:39 PM

    He was a good man

    19
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    Mute Andy Poole
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:40 PM

    Haha, good one!

    62
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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:46 PM

    Good at what he did, in a bad way…

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:56 PM

    A good man for the brown envelopes and self preservation at the expense of the Irish public.

    64
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    Mute tom
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:26 PM

    Our Hitler Charlie, and now we have a new one Enda. It’s in the name Enda everything good in this country. Pr**ks the lot of them.

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    Mute Ho Lee Fuk
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:45 PM

    I really do admire this truly remarkable corrupt now deceased individual. To wear chavret or to wear chavret ,that was a tough daily decision,that he had to make.

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    Mute Coco McDee
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:26 PM

    Fuk lee hol surely you mean Charvet, Charvet shirts you pleb

    9
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    Mute Ho Lee Fuk
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 7:55 PM

    Ho Lee Fuk !! Thee r went before thee z . Good man,Coco!

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    Mute Mike
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 8:32 PM

    He set the standard for the rest of that gang

    5
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    Mute eire
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:53 PM

    Great craic!! F&&& you

    5
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    Mute Martin Posters Moore Street
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 5:44 PM

    I gave him them turkeys that you’s all had back in the day at christmas you’s wernt given them back

    3
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    Mute Ron North
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 6:10 PM

    Is this comment available in English?

    61
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    Mute louise hession
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    Nov 3rd 2014, 7:47 AM

    Ireland’s own Berlisconli he had newsreaders and journalist at his bonga
    Bonga shindigs

    2
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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 11:58 PM

    A true dingle berry on the arse end of Irish History.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Nov 2nd 2014, 11:21 PM

    Hope he’s burning in hell

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    Mute peenie man
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    Nov 3rd 2014, 8:52 AM

    He,CJ, introduced this video trailer for Tommy KD last August….more to come
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PwS65GEE0

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