A Roscommon farmer who was having marital difficulties with his wife of four years, wrote to the then Prime Minister Charles Haughey, according to recently published state papers.

In the letter he told Mr Haughey she had no money when they married her but she “has refused to have a child, cook, wash or clean the house. All she does is walk the roads and lie in bed all day. When I ask her what she intends doing, she tells me mind my own business that she will do as she likes.”

The farmer explained he tried to lock her out of the house but she managed to gain access.

“Could you please tell me is she entitled to equal share in my property, as I think she is entitled to none of it,” he asked Mr Haughey.

In response the Mr Haughey’s secretary sad that only the man’s solicitor could fully answer his questions.