Brian Purcell: A loyal servant takes rap for litany of controversies

Brian Purcell wrote to his staff in the Department of Justice telling them that he was standing aside before that information became public.

A most loyal public servant, who despite being placed in a most difficult position by his political masters, he concluded his letter offering Minister Frances Fitzgerald his very best wishes for the future.

That effectively brought to an end a career of 23 years in which he held some of the most senior positions in the civil service including director general of the prison service and secretary general of justice for the past three years.