Brian Lenihan has cancer (1 Viewer)

[Umfufu]

According to TV3, he's been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Nothing on RTE's website yet.

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?article_id=28526&locID=1.2.&pagename=news

 

[Umfufu]

RTE are only saying that the Department of Finance are refusing to comment on the reports.
TV3 could come out of this looking pretty bad if this wasn't officially released.

Not the most sensitive way to deal with a story like this especially the day after Christmas.

 

[FiFi_LaRue]

Aye, poor form on TV3's behalf if it wasn't an officially sanctioned release of the info. I can understand them wanting an exclusive, but surely there was a better way to do it.

 

[Wobbler]

Aye, poor form on TV3's behalf if it wasn't an officially sanctioned release of the info. I can understand them wanting an exclusive, but surely there was a better way to do it.

Indeed. I'm no fan of FF but still hope it's not true.

 

[MDR]

very sad for him - apparently it's pancreatic cancer, but no details of how serious/advanced it is.

 

[Scientician 0.8]

Pancreatic is basically a death sentence isn't it?

 

[philbrooks]

Pancreatic is basically a death sentence isn't it?

5% survival rate so relatively yes

Boards.ie is lolz with trolls saying he deserves it and then other posters taking offence then engaging in who can have the most pc response to said trolling.

 

[Diddles]

I love Brian Lenihan. Pity he's in Zanu FF and not a very good finance minister, but I'd never hold that against him.

 

[MDR]

Boards.ie is lolz with trolls saying he deserves it and then other posters taking offence then engaging in who can have the most pc response to said trolling.

Politics.ie likewise.

 

[Wobbler]

Politics.ie likewise.

So immature.

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

Sean Haughey has offered to have a whip-round at the next meeting of the parliamentary party.

 

[PHONiC]

Thats really sad, I wish him the best of luck!

 

[Diddles]

I'm really worried about who'll replace him as MOF while he's ill. The thoughts of Mary Harney running NAMA is giving me nightmares.

 

[washingcattle]

I'm really worried about who'll replace him as MOF while he's ill. The thoughts of Mary Harney running NAMA is giving me nightmares.

Nightmare.

 

[Diddles]

Nightmare.

Naked! Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhhh!

 

[IFF]

i wish him the best of luck

i do think it was extremely insensitive of tv3 to announce the news on st. stephens day.

 

[washingcattle]

Oh yeah kinda went off topic to make glib remarks there. Yeah hope he knocks he bollox out of cancer. Unlikely as that is.


TV3 are cunts. I'd boycott them if they had anything worth watching, as is I'm just ignoring them.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

One wonders what spurred TV3 to announce this on St Stephen's Day given that this Christmas may be his last.

Nasty channel.
Terrible disease - particularly what Lenihan has. Hope he beats it.

 

[ann post]

the inevitable facebook campaign:

Name:Formally complaining TV3 News' coverage of Brian Lenihan's illness
Category:Common Interest - Politics
Description:
I like many others as disgusted at the manner in which TV broke news of Brian Lenihan's illness on St. Stephen's Day. If you agree that it marked a new low for Irish journalism please contact the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland at at 01 6441200 or [email protected]

The official way to lodge a complaint is by downloading a PDF of the complaints form http://www.bai.ie/pdfs/complaint_form programme_bai.doc , completing it and returning it by post which I will be doing and I hope many of you will too.

In the meantime, I also suggest copying the following to [email protected] and [email protected]
>>>

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my disgust at the manner in which TV3 News broke the story of Minister Brian Lenihan’s diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer on the TV3 5.30 News bulletin on December 26th 2009.

Showing a complete disregard for patient confidentiality, the Minister’s right to privacy and the emotional turmoil that he and his family are undoubtedly going through as they grapple with this new diagnosis, TV3 broadcast a confused and frankly insulting piece; with no sources and official confirmation and frequent references to the Minister in the past tense.

I accept that the public has a right to information regarding the health of its leaders but an individual has a greater right to time and privacy in the immediate aftermath of such a serious diagnosis. To show blatant disregard for this right at Christmas time marks a sad day in the decline of Irish broadcasting and journalism.

I strongly feel TV3 has violated the The Code of Programme Standards on the grounds of fairness, objectivity and impartiality.

Yours sincerely,

 

[Reets]

He might not be a great Finance Minister but still seems like a decent politician. I've met him a few times and he was always really nice.
He showed up for something I was running the day after his father in law died because he didn't want to leave us in the lurch.
Hopefully he gets through this.