Former Irish premier Haughey dies aged 80

DUBLIN, June 13 (Reuters) - Charles Haughey, three times prime minister of Ireland, has died at the age of 80, the Irish government said today.

''I have learned with great sadness of the death today of the former Taoiseach (prime minister) and Leader of Fianna Fail, Mr Charles Haughey. It is a very sad occasion, and marks the passing of an era,'' current Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in an e-mailed statement.

Haughey, whose health had been in decline since he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995, suffered a heart attack in 2001 and had undergone emergency hospital treatment for his illness several times in recent years.

The former premier dominated Irish politics for a generation between 1979 and 1992. Often credited with laying the groundwork for Ireland's Celtic Tiger economic boom, his legacy was tainted by a series of scandals and allegations of corruption.

REUTERS SHB VV1548