Ben Dunne

Elaine Byrne: He was a likeable rogue but Ben Dunne was also a corrupting influence on public life

The late Irish businessman did not accept the adverse findings made against him by the various tribunals but he never legally challenged them

In all the commentary since Ben Dunne’s untimely death, the precise details about his generosity to politicians in power and the actions that flowed from this indulgence were largely absent. Picture: Rollingnews

Ben Dunne was many things. A likeable rogue with a no-nonsense persona. An Irish businessman who built his empire despite the economic bleakness of 1980s Ireland.

A flawed human being who repeatedly won the hearts of the Irish public because of his raw honesty and resilience following his dramatic falls from grace.

Ben Dunne was also a profoundly corrupting influence on Irish public life in the 1980s and 1990s. He did not accept the adverse ...