Des O’Malley, who was a dominant figure in Irish politics across four decades, has died aged 82. As Justice Minister O’Malley engaged in a gut struggle with subversive paramilitaries, especially the IRA, at a very dangerous time. However, depleted numbers for Charlie Haughey’s Fianna Fáil led to that most unlikely coalition. Des O’Malley avoided involvement in subsequent Fianna Fáil coalitions and finally quit politics in 2002. This article has been amended on July 21, 2021 to reflect Des O’Malley was expelled from Fianna Fáil in 1985 not 1984

Source: Irish Independent July 21, 2021 09:25 UTC