Seán Doherty (politician)

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Seán Doherty (Irish: Seán Ó Dochartaigh; August 29, 1944 – June 7, 2005), was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as Minister for Justice on one occasion in 1982.

Born in County Roscommon, he was educated in County Leitrim, at University College Dublin and King's Inns. In 1965 Doherty became a member of an Garda Síochána (Irish police force), joining the Special Branch in the early 1970s. In 1973 Doherty took a seat on Roscommon County Council, which was vacant due to the death of his father. In the 1977 landslide election Doherty was one of the Fianna Fáil candidates elected a TD for the first time. In 1979 Doherty was a key member of the so-called "gang of five" which supported Charles Haughey's attempt to take over the leadership of the party. The other members were Albert Reynolds, Mark Killilea, Jnr, Tom McEllistrim, Jnr and Jackie Fahey.

Haughey was successful in the leadership contest and Doherty was rewarded by being appointed Minister for State at the Department of Justice. 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 two 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. He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the elections on the same day to the European Parliament, but he was later elected instead to Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel and became the Cathaoirleach (Chairman) of the 19th Seanad.

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 he was Taoiseach in 1982. Doherty had always denied this. Haughey denied the claim also, however, he was forced to resign from the government. He 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.

Seán Doherty died of a brain haemorrhage on June 7, 2005 while on a family holiday in County Donegal.

[edit] Political Career

Political offices
Preceded by Jim Mitchell	Minister for Justice Mar. 9, 1982 – Dec. 14, 1982	Succeeded by Michael Noonan
Preceded by Tras Honan	Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann 1989–1992	Succeeded by Seán Fallon