Clement Coughlan
Clement Coughlan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and school teacher from County Donegal. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a 1980 by-election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Donegal. He only served in public office for two years before his death in a road traffic accident on 1 February 1983. In a morbid twist his death and the timing of his funeral is considered to be the deciding factor in keeping Charles Haughey as leader of Fianna Fáil, when the support for the campaign to oust him dwindled following the funeral. Coughlan's brother, Cathal Coughlan, was elected in the subsequent by-election. His niece, Mary Coughlan was also a TD and Minister.
He also played with the Donegal Senior football team.
