Lenihan worked 17-hour days while ill

MARY O’ROURKE has told how her late nephew Brian Lenihan put in gruelling 17-hour days at his office after his devastating cancer diagnosis.

A new RTÉ documentary on his life has revealed how those closest to the Fianna Fáil politician believe his double battle to fight the disease and save the country from economic ruin prolonged his life.

It also reveals how the finance minister did briefly contemplate giving up his government post when doctors first broke the news of his illness to him, but his sense of duty kicked in.