Former Dunnes Stores Boss Ben Dunne Dies at 74

Controversial Irish Businessman Remembered as 'Larger Than Life' Despite Scandals

Ben Dunne, former head of the Dunnes Stores supermarket chain, has died at the age of 74 in Dubai, reportedly from a heart attack.
Dunne's life was marked by several controversies, including a kidnapping by the IRA in 1981, an arrest for cocaine possession in 1992, and a scandal involving payments to former Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey.
Following his arrest in 1992, Dunne's sister took over the family business and an accounting review revealed Dunne's payments to politicians, triggering a major scandal and investigations into lobbying in Irish politics.
Despite his controversies, Dunne was described as 'larger than life' by current Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and his son Robert described him as a 'good and decent man'.
After his departure from Dunnes Stores, Dunne ran a chain of gyms and is survived by his wife, Mary, and their four children.