The Fianna Fail TD for Limerick West, Mr Michael J. Collins, now engulfed in controversy following his Revenue Commissioners settlement, has rarely been heard in the Dáil since he was elected in 1997.
Mr Collins, along with his better-known brother, Gerard, is part of the legendary and frequently fearsome political dynasty that has dominated the constituency since their father, James J., was elected in 1948.
Quietly spoken, the Patrickswell-based Mr Collins has rarely shared secrets with his colleagues, although a few party colleagues have known for some weeks that he was about to be revealed as a tax defaulter.
"He keeps himself to himself mostly. He would be suspicious of Fianna Fáil headquarters, and they would be suspicious of the whole Collins clan," said one colleague last evening.
His failure to avail of the opportunity offered by the Revenue Commissioners to settle privately in 2001 has baffled colleagues. "He should have known at that point that he was going to get done," said one.
"I don't know. Maybe he thought that if he closed his eyes for long enough and pulled the duvet up high enough the crisis would just go away. He wouldn't be the first to make that mistake," said another.
Though far from being a political novice, Mr Collins surprised more than a few in the constituency when he decided to stand to replace his brother after the latter went to the European Parliament.
In 1996 he received the support of the majority of delegates at the Fianna Fáil selection convention, although the sense of unity evaporated quickly as other candidates jostled for position.
Two fellow county councillors, Mr Michael Brennan and Mr John Gallahue, quit to stand as independent candidates after Mr John Clifford was selected to run on the ticket alongside Mr Collins.
Mr Collins retired from local politics in 1999. Mr Clifford and Mr Brennan retained their seats on Limerick County Council while Mr Gallahue won a seat in Kilmallock.
Mr Collins easily won a seat in the general election the following year, but local divisions within Fianna Fáil led to it losing its second seat.
By 2002 Fianna Fáil's traditional dominance was restored when Mr John Cregan, who lost favour with the Collins clan as he rose through the ranks, joined Mr Collins in the Dáil.
Inside the Dáil chamber, Mr Collins has rarely spoken, although he did defend the former Supreme Court judge, Mr Hugh O'Flahert,y during the crisis caused by his nomination to the European Investment Bank.
"He works hard at a constituency level. He would be conscious of his own place and position. To be honest, I have always thought that he lived in the shadow of his brother," said another colleague.
