Describing him as "a patriot to the fingertips", Ahern claimed that even political opponents would acknowledge the good work done by Haughey during his remarkable political career.

But is he a lone voice or did he persuade any political opponents to his largely uncritical view?

Most TDs have declined to comment on the controversy surrounding Haughey in deference to his loved-ones' grief, although Pat Rabbitte did hint at Haughey's "darker side", and Ruairi Quinn said that Haughey had "destroyed politics in this country". On Questions and Answers, he called him "a traitor" for trying to undermine the Anglo Irish Agreement while he was leader of the opposition.

What's been the overall verdict of media commentators on his legacy?

Virtually every opinion or analysis article on Haughey since his death has been negative. Most of the negativity surrounded Haughey's lavish lifestyle, which was subject to investigation by the Moriarty tribunal.

Writers in the Irish Independent were extremely critical, both of his policies and his extravagant lifestyle. Kevin Myers described Haughey as a "freeloading crook". Bruce Arnold claimed that his career was "blighted by crisis and controversy, of his own making", while David McWilliams commented "my teenage memory of him is of someone who ran the place for himself and his mates". Ruth Dudley Edwards, meanwhile, said, "Charles Haughey did the state little service and a great deal of damage. . . may we not see his like again".

Writing in the Irish Times, Peter Murtagh asked, "What values are there to admire in a man who took money from a liver transplant charity fund he set up to help the life of the late Brian Lenihan, his best political friend?"

Matt Cooper, writing in the Irish Examiner, said Haughey's legacy was to corrupt Irish politics and pave the way for a culture of backhanders. "If it had not been for Mr Haughey we would not have had Ray Burke, Padraig Flynn, Liam Lawlor and others, " he said. The paper's political editor, Harry McGee, claimed that Haughey's leadership was "offset by duplicity and personal greed".

Fergus Finlay wrote, "Charles Haughey moulded it [Fianna Fail] in his own image, and in the process corrupted it, little by little but totally".

Surely the vitriol has to end somewhere?

Yes. Vincent Browne, once his greatest critic, has proven his most loyal supporter in death. Writing in The Irish Times, the editor of Villagemagazine asked, "Wasn't his acceptance of handouts from wealthy individuals, however improper, essentially a trivial matter as compared with the injustices in the society he helped to shape while he was in politics?"

Forget the money and the mistress, were Haughey's policies given much credit?

There was much criticism of Haughey the politician, as well as Haughey the man.

In an editorial, The Irish Times noted, "on the economy, he tried to implement a uniquely Irish solution to the problem, the one that worked for him in his personal life: borrow all the money that you can and don't bother paying it back. . .

When his personal interest was not at stake, he did serve the state. On his death, what might have surprised him was the limited public interest in his funeral".

Stephen Collins, writing in The Irish Times, said, "a cold analysis of his political career would suggest that his political judgement was deeply and sometimes dangerously flawed".

Pat Brosnan in the Examiner wrote, "part of the legacy he left the country is the deplorable state of the health service", while the Irish Independent's Maurice Hayes criticised his "reckless" attitude towards Northern Ireland.

So it was all negative then?

No, a minority of commentators insisted the positive would outweigh the negative.

Under a headline reading "History will be kinder to him than his contemporaries have been", Sam Smyth in the Irish Independent said that Haughey deserves credit for helping to create the Celtic Tiger.

Ryle Dwyer in the Examiner said, "for all his failings, he has left a legacy of many real accomplishments", while that paper's editorial claimed Haughey will be remembered as "an exceptionally able minister and strikingly competent".

The Connacht Tribune called Haughey "a great Mayo man".

In an editorial, the paper commented, "history, I believe, will be the real judge, and he will be remembered for the good that he achieved rather than the disgrace that he brought upon his office and his family".