A political storm and the infamous acronym is born

Listen | 28:27
A history of Ireland in 100 words:  2 – Gubu. Charlie Haughey, whose response to the discovery of the murderer Charles Macarthur in the attorney general’s home, in 1982, Conor Cruise O’Brien turned into the acronym. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall
A history of Ireland in 100 words: 2 – Gubu. Charlie Haughey, whose response to the discovery of the murderer Charles Macarthur in the attorney general’s home, in 1982, Conor Cruise O’Brien turned into the acronym. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall

Malcolm Macarthur’s arrest in the home of the Attorney General Patrick Connolly creates an international political storm.

Charles Haughey holds a press conference to calm things down. It leads to the creation of a phrase that will haunt him for the rest of the career.

Episode four of seven.

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GUBU is researched, reported and narrated by Harry McGee and edited by Enda O’Dowd.

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Sound mix by JJ Vernon

Title music by Orakhal

Graphics by Paul Scott