He was a political stalwart, loved despite his unpopular decisions

That Brian Lenihan worked through his illness was no surprise to those who knew him, writes John Downing

NEWS just after Christmas 2009 that Brian Lenihan was staying on in his high-pressure job as Finance Minister, though stricken by pancreatic cancer, caused no surprise to those who knew him well.

Politics was a central part of his life from his very first days. His father, grandfather, aunt and brother all served in Dáil Éireann and remarkably, up to yesterday, there had been a family member in Leinster House continuously since 1957.