Brian Lenihan 1959 - 2011

By now just about all the possible superlatives that could be called upon to describe Brian Lenihan’s personal courage have been used and they are well deserved. Here at StubbsGazette we would also like to put on record our deep admiration for a man who came to represent the epitome of selfless dedication and patriotism in Irish life and whose personal deportment in the face of appalling adversity was nothing short of heroic. Now that he has gone somehow the dreadful problems facing the State acquire something of a new perspective.

Time will be the best judge of some of the daunting decisions Brian Lenihan faced as Minister for Finance in the fraught days that led to the bank guarantee but, at the very least, those decisions were made from an unenviably difficult position and, most likely, in possession of an almost treasonable incomplete levels of disclosure from the banking sector.

Brian Lenihan was also a friend to those of us who aspire to the aim that this country should have nothing short of the highest standards in the realm of its business environment and in countering financial crime. This was apparent when he spoke at the launch of the Irish Fraud Bureau when Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in September 2007.

He understood the corrosive effects of low standards and abandoned principles. “Financial fraud, ultimately, hurts the consumer through increased costs of doing business. In an international context, I believe that this country has earned a reputation for honesty in financial and commercial transactions. Actions taken to protect this reputation are to be commended and supported.”

By his own demeanour and actions Brian Lenihan himself did great honour and service to the reputation of this country. He will be missed greatly and our sympathies lie with his family and friends.

Rest in Peace.