Brian Lenihan RIP (condolences thread)

T runner

As reported in Thejournal.ie: http://www.thejournal.ie/breaking-brian-lenihan-has-died-153146-Jun2011/?utm_source=shortlink

THE FORMER MINISTER for Finance Brian Lenihan has died.

He died in the early hours of this morning.

Sources close to the Dublin West TD confirmed to TheJournal.ie, that Lenihan – who had been suffering from pancreatic cancer – died at his home in west Dublin with his family by his side.

More to follow.

Darragh

Just heard on the radio that Brian Lenihan has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died.

Condolences and sympathies to his family. RIP.

Santa Claus

I know there have already been 2 previous occassions when he apparently "died" but according to breakingnews.ie sadly it's true on this occassion.

Official announcement expected at 11am. My sympathies to his family

dlofnep

Just heard there. He's been sick for a long time now. Condolences to his family. Very sad.

T runner

Clearly huge personal sacrifices in time (with his family) and health were made since his diagnoses. That is admirable.

54kroc

Very sad, RIP.

Carpenter

Rip

Dannyboy83

RIP

Paddysnapper

Very sad news....He will be a great loss to the nation. And his family.

DoesNotCompute

I never agreed with his politics, or what he did when in power, but he persevered nonetheless despite his illness, and the weight of the economic disaster he had to deal with. I suspect his hands were tied given the economic straightjacket the country was in.

RIP

Buford T Justice

Very sad news. Rip.

jhegarty

RIP

pog it

RIP.

Inquitus

RIP, sad news indeed.

Funkstard

Did he take a sudden turn? He was in the public eye until very recently anyway. Admirable for how hard he worked during the illness. RIP.

whippet

i'm abroad at the moment and somewhat shocked at reading this.

The timing of his death has shown me that he sacrificed his own personal battle for that of our country over the last number of years.

Everyone has their opinion on his political/economical history but one thing is certain that he put his country first.

You'll be missed, Rest In Peace

P. Breathnach

Sad news indeed.

Judgement Day

I'm far from being an FF supporter but very sorry to hear this - a young man who tried his best to do his duty. RIP

sonkal

Just heard the news, very sad, my thoughts are with his family at thiis very difficult time.

niamhallen

RIP

radharc

Terribly sad news. Perhaps the only figure to come out of the last government that the public had any respect for. Dignified to the end.

average_runner

The man put the country before his health and family!!

People might not agreed with his policies but his hands were time by the old powers of FF.

RIP Brian

Sully

RIP Brian. Sad loss to political life imo.

A Plague On Both Your Houses

Damn.

He was and still is respected. I know if I had a cancer I'd just take my early retirement and live the rest of my life on some Island.

RIP.

Yakuza

RIP, it is always sad to see someone die with young kids. I'm not an FF'er, and I believe he had good intentions. He should have resigned when he was diagnosed to give himself the best chance of recovery, but he soldiered on. That, at least, is worthy of respect.

Fr Tod Umptious

It's not on RTE or the Irish Times websites yet

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

oh, come on...
he (among others) presided over the biggest scandal in Irish history, handing billions of banking debt over to the public and lied constantly to the same public about what was going on.

I for one am not sorry to see the back of him.

Ye may feel that's harsh but he imposed hardship and suffering on tens of thousands of Irish people due to his financial decisions as minister and did it all without regret and with a smile on his face.

Troll, not the time for comments like this. Have some respect.... ffs. RIP

kmart6

On the RTE News now!

steddyeddy

Rest in peace and sympathies to the family.

RIP

NewHillel

whippet wrote: »

i'm abroad at the moment and somewhat shocked at reading this.

The timing of his death has shown me that he sacrificed his own personal battle for that of our country over the last number of years.

Everyone has their opinion on his political/economical history but one thing is certain that he put his country first.

You'll be missed, Rest In Peace

He was a true patriot and made huge personal sacrifices for the good of his country. May he Rest In Peace.

Yakuza

On PK now.

DJCR

RIP

Rubik.

RIP - surely criticism of him as a politician can wait.

raymon

This is not a time for pro FF or anti FF rants.

RIP Brian Lenihan

boogerballs

Political views aside I feel sad for Brian and his family, it cant have been an easy last few years so I offer my deepest condolences.

Darsad

Not an admirer of his certainly in the last 3 years but then I think no matter who was at the helm the same or similar decisions would have been made ! very sad for his family RIP

soccymonster

RIP. My thoughts are with his family. So sad.

Spudmonkey

One of the few politicians I had any great time for, even though he was involved in some disastrous decisions.

RIP Brian.

Absurdum

May he Rest in Peace, my thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends. He was a good man who bravely battled a terrible illness whilst doing an impossible job, and for that he gets (and got) my respect. RIP.

kerash

I do sympathise with his family and friends and it's a great shame that he has passed away. However I would seriously question his judgement in continuing in office when he was very sick.

T runner wrote: »

Clearly huge personal sacrifices in time (with his family) and health were made since his diagnoses. That is admirable.

Is it admirable or stupid to try and do that job when you are very ill and may not be able to fulfill your duties.

Hermy

eigrod wrote: »

RIP.

For those who say he put his country before his health, he certainly did, but to the detriment of both the country & his health, imo.

When the diagnosis was first made, it was clear that the life expectancy & chances for full recovery were very low. Personally, I think he should have stepped down at that stage because nobody with that illness could give 100% to what was the most important job in the country at that time.

Thank you for putting into words what I have so far failed to do.

nicol

Sincerest sympathies to the Lenihans and all who will feel his loss. RIP.

Dizzyblonde

RIP Brian. He was a good man.

RP Mc murphy

He had a very tough portfolio, and has now paid the ultimate sacrifice. Linked or not, his health cannot have benefited from the pressure of his work as minister for finance.

I am sorry that he has passed and wish condolences to his family.

Aidric

It says a lot for his stature that he was re-elected in Dublin West despite a near obliteration of the Fianna Fail party.

Sad to see someone die so young. Shocking even though we knew for a long time he was sick.

I dont want to see mainstream media fail to criticize his policies simply because he is dead now. He was a very sick man and his judgement may have been affected - he should never have been put through the terrible stresses of being in charge of Finance while the country was going through the worst recession since the 1930s.

I hope history blames the department of finance and the rest of the previous govt cabinet as Lenihan was clearly too sick to be making huge judgement calls the poor man.

Let this be a lesson to all of us - life is short, work/life balance is very important

RIP

Doogieboogie

While I have zero respect for his policies, and also felt that he should have stepped down on his diagnosis, it is a sad day for his family and friends; he was very young. RIP.

maupat

A rare beacon of intelligence in Irish politics - my sympathies and condolences to his family.

bmaxi

Certainly wouldn't have agreed with his politics and I think people will be inclined to view his career through rose coloured glasses in light of his early death but nonetheless, it is a personal tragedy for his family.

RangeR

RIP