Desmond O'Malley: Encyclopedia II - Desmond O'Malley - Early Life

Desmond O'Malley - Early Life

Dessie O'Malley was born in Limerick City, Ireland in 1939. He was educated at the Jesuit Crescent College and at University College Dublin where he qualified degree in law in 1962. O’Malley’s family had been involved in politics for many decades. His grandfather was killed during the War of Independence by the Black and Tans. Two of his uncles and his father held the office of Mayor of Limerick.

O'Malley's uncle, Donagh O'Malley, as Minister for Education was a seminal figure in the development of Irish education. He died suddenly on his way to a function in Ennis, County Clare in 1968 while still in office. The young O'Malley was elected to Dáil Éireann for Fianna Fáil in the subsequent by-election. Much of the credit for O'Malley's by-election victory is credited to Neil Blaney and his "Donegal Mafia" who ensured O'Malley won the election after a bitter and acrimonious selection convention.

Following the 1969 general election O'Malley was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, noticed early on the ability and intelligence that lay in O'Malley. From an early stage he was singled out as a possible future leader of the Fianna Fáil Party and Taoiseach. In the wake of the Arms Crisis in 1970 O'Malley succeeded Micheál Ó Moráin as Minister for Justice. During his tenure at Justice O'Malley started to tackle the problem of the Irish Republican Army. He wanted to introduce internment without trial for IRA suspects in the Republic but his plans were scrapped due to the controversial nature of this new legislation. Because of his hard-line on the IRA he was the subject of an ongoing assassination threat and was forced to carry a loaded pistol and was frequently moved from house to house.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Early Life", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki