For Brian Lenihan, who died of cancer on June 10th, it was impossibly hard.

ECONOMIST: Ireland��s former finance minister dies, at just 52

"The state can no longer afford this, " said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan on Tuesday.

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He also appointed as his Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, the grandson, son, nephew and brother of Fianna Fail TDs and ministers.

BBC: Changes at Republic's top

After last year's Christmas exodus by southern shoppers, Irish finance minister Brian Lenihan suggested it was "unpatriotic" of them to shop in Northern Ireland rather than boost the ailing economy in the south.

BBC: Striking workers head north for bargains

However, these reports do nothing to help solve the mystery of why Brian Lenihan and his officials reported the arrival of a letter on November 12, 2010 while the letter being debated for release was dated apparently November 19.

FORBES: ECB Secret Letter to Ireland To Be Released?

The Fianna Fail candidate, Brian Lenihan, was sacked as deputy prime minister by his old friend Charles Haughey at the insistence of his coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, in a row over whether phone calls had been made to President Hillery asking him not to dissolve the Dail in 1982.

BBC: Irish presidency: candidates go from sinner to saint