Hugh Coveney

Hugh Coveney (20 July 1935 – 14 March 1998) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 1996 to 1997, Minister for the Marine and Minister for Defence from 1994 to 1995 and Lord Mayor of Cork from 1982 to 1983. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency from 1981 to 1982, 1982 to 1987 and 1994 to 1998.[1]

Hugh Coveney
Minister of State at the Department of Finance
In office
24 May 1995  26 June 1997
TaoiseachJohn Bruton
Preceded byJim Higgins
Succeeded byMartin Cullen
Minister for the Marine
In office
15 December 1994  23 May 1995
TaoiseachJohn Bruton
Preceded byDavid Andrews
Succeeded bySeán Barrett
Minister for Defence
In office
15 December 1994  23 May 1995
TaoiseachJohn Bruton
Preceded byDavid Andrews
Succeeded bySeán Barrett
Lord Mayor of Cork
In office
22 June 1982  3 July 1983
Preceded byPaud Black
Succeeded byJohn Dennehy
Teachta Dála
In office
November 1994  14 March 1998
In office
November 1982  February 1987
In office
June 1981  February 1982
ConstituencyCork South-Central
Personal details
Born(1935-07-20)20 July 1935
Cork, Ireland
Died14 March 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 62)
Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)Pauline Coveney
(m. 1969; d. 1998)
Children5, including Simon
Education
Alma materUniversity College Cork

Early life

Coveney was born into one of Cork's prosperous "merchant prince" families in 1935. He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork, Clongowes Wood College and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He worked as a chartered quantity surveyor before entering politics.

Political career

Coveney served as Lord Mayor of Cork from 1982 to 1983. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for the Cork South-Central constituency at the 1981 general election.[2] He lost his seat in the first general election of 1982 but regained it in the second election in the same year. He lost his seat again at the 1987 general election and did not contest the 1992 general election. He was elected to the Dáil again in 1994 following a by-election.

He was first appointed to the Cabinet in 1994 under Taoiseach John Bruton. Coveney was appointed Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine. However, he was demoted to a junior ministry the following year after allegations of improper contact with businessmen.

Yachting

Coveney's yacht Golden Apple of The Sun (designed by Cork-based designer Ron Holland) was a successful competitor in the Admiral's Cup in the 1970s.

A later 50-foot (15 m) yacht Golden Apple was used by the family for the "Sail Chernobyl" project. The family sailed around the world to raise €650,000 for the Chernobyl Children's Project, a charity which offers assistance to children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Death

In March 1998, it became publicly known that the Moriarty Tribunal had questioned Coveney about whether he had a secret offshore account with Ansbacher Bank, a bank which had become notorious for facilitating tax-evasion. Ten days later, on 13 March 1998, Coveney visited his solicitor to change his will. The next day, 14 March 1998, Coveney died in a fall from a seaside cliff while out walking alone. His son, Simon Coveney, insisted that his father had never held an Ansbacher account.[3] It later emerged that Hugh Coveney had $175,000 on deposit in the secret Cayman Island-based bank. The account was closed in 1979.[4]

His son, Simon, was later elected a TD to succeed his father in the resulting by-election on 3 November 1998. He is a former Tánaiste.

See also

References

  1. "Hugh Coveney". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  2. "Hugh Coveney". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  3. Roche, Barry (28 February 1999). "Coveney changed will on the day before his death". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  4. "Hugh Coveney `had $175,000 in Cayman'". Irish Independent. 11 February 2000. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Paud Black
Lord Mayor of Cork
1982
Succeeded by
John Dennehy
Political offices
Preceded by
David Andrews
Minister for Defence
1994–1995
Succeeded by
Seán Barrett
Minister for the Marine
1994–1995
Preceded by
Jim Higgins
Minister of State at the Department of Finance
1995–1997
Succeeded by
Martin Cullen
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