Career
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a 1980 by-election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) 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.
He also played with the Donegal Senior football team
