Lenihan’s cancer has not worsened but still remains

BRIAN LENIHAN has concluded radiotherapy and chemotherapy but, while his condition has not worsened, his cancer remains, his aunt has said.

Fianna Fáil TD Mary O’Rourke said the Finance Minister “remains very strong”, when asked about his health yesterday.

“He is not taking treatment any more, neither the radium nor the chemo — that has finished since last June/July,” Ms O’Rourke said. “The cancer remains: it didn’t grow and it did not go away. So it remains and, therefore, that is his exact state of health . . . but he remains very strong.”

She said she worried about Mr Lenihan “all the time”, adding: “It’s actually my waking thought.”

Earlier this year, Mr Lenihan said the “intensive” rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy had stabilised his cancer, but he acknowledged it hadn’t “gone away”.

“It’s there, and it is a danger, but it’s not an immediate or clear or present danger to me,” he said.

Ms O’Rourke, meanwhile, suggested yesterday there was little merit in deposing Taoiseach Brian Cowen as party leader before the election.

She recently asked for a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in January to discuss the leadership issue. That was seen in some quarters as a move by Ms O’Rourke to spark a heave that would see Mr Cowen replaced by her nephew in time for the general election. But Ms O’Rourke said yesterday it was her belief right now that Mr Cowen should lead the party into the election.

“If I get my way to have that meeting, it will be a collegiate approach I’m sure, and we will then decide. But I actually (feel) at this point we’ve gone so far that I cannot see there is merit in change.”

However, after the election, she felt Mr Lenihan would be a good choice for party leader if his “health could bear it”.

Ms O’Rourke was speaking in an interview with Ryan Tubridy on 2FM.