Haughey's former election agent dies

Mr Patrick O'Connor, a close friend and former election agent of Mr Charles Haughey, has died after a long illness

Mr Patrick O'Connor, a close friend and former election agent of Mr Charles Haughey, has died after a long illness. Mr O'Connor, a retired Dublin solicitor who was cleared of charges of double voting in the 1982 general election, was in his 60s. He died in the Mater Hospital last night.

A life-long Fianna Fail activist, Mr O'Connor was Mr Haughey's election agent in Dublin North Central for many years until November 1982 when he was succeeded by his son, Michael, also a solicitor. Mr O'Connor and his father, Mr John S. O'Connor, both served as election agents for Mr Eamon de Valera.

Mr O'Connor was on the Arms Trial legal team acting for Mr Haughey in 1970. He was a very close personal friend of Mr Haughey.

Mr O'Connor and his daughter, Niamh, faced allegations in 1982 that they had voted twice in the February general election in the Dublin North constituency. The summonses alleged that, having voted at Malahide polling station, they applied for ballot papers at another polling station in Kinsealy. The case was dismissed when it came to the District Court in April 1982.

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In 1983 an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the acquittal by the District Court was dismissed by the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Finlay.

Mr O'Connor practised in his family firm of John S. O'Connor, which has merged with Ivor Fitzpatrick and Co. He lived in Malahide, Co Dublin. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughters Maureen, Niamh, Siobhan and Tracey and sons, Cormac and Michael. His removal takes place tonight and his funeral will be on Friday.