The Murderer and the Taoiseach: Death, Politics and GUBU - Revisiting the Notorious Malcolm Macarthur Case

In the summer of 1982, an aristocrat named Malcolm Macarthur went on a killing spree, taking the lives of two innocent young people. He was captured in the home of the State's top law officer, Attorney General Patrick Connolly, resulting in a scandal that attracted worldwide headlines and caused untold damage to Taoiseach Charles Haughey. This book by Harry McGee retraces the happenings of that summer and beyond, considering both the life and psyche of a murderer and the leading political figure of the time.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2023
Publisher: Hachette Books Ireland

The summer of 1982 in Ireland was marked by a series of shocking crimes that shook the nation to its core. An aristocrat named Malcolm Macarthur embarked on a brutal killing spree, taking the lives of two innocent young people, Bridie Gargan and Dónal Dunne, in a desperate attempt to alleviate his financial woes. The ensuing manhunt was intense, and Macarthur was eventually captured in the home of the State's top law officer, Attorney General Patrick Connolly. The scandal, which attracted worldwide headlines, caused untold damage to Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who coined the era-defining phrase "GUBU" to describe the dark events.

In this captivating book, award-winning political journalist and GUBU podcast-maker Harry McGee takes readers on a journey back to that long hot summer and beyond. He delves into the life and psyche of Macarthur, the unpredictable killer, as well as the political figure of the time, Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who was driven by greed, status, and a sense of himself as existing above the law. The book includes previously unknown aspects of the trial and interaction with Macarthur himself, making it a compulsive read for anyone interested in tragedy and scandal.

The writing is brisk, illuminating, and filled with detailed accounts of the events that unfolded. Tony Connelly, in his review for The Irish Times, praised the book as "an incredible and compelling story," while Matt Cooper, writing for The Irish Post, described it as "crackling with detail." The Murderer and the Taoiseach is a testament to the power of journalism and storytelling, reminding us of the importance of never forgetting the darker moments in our history.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 153 x 234 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399718592