Paul Brennan (Fair City character)

Infobox soap character
name = Paul Brennan
series =Fair City
colour=#99CCCC;
first =1989
parents = Anne-Marie Brennan (mother)
children = Oisin Prendergrast (son)
Rachel Brennan (daughter)
occupation =
spouse = Nicola Prendergast
Niamh Cassidy
residence =
portrayer = Tony Tormey

Paul Brennan is a fictional character in the RTÉ soap opera "Fair City", portrayed by Tony Tormey. He is the father of Rachel and Oisin. He has a reputation of having many casual love affairs.

Fictional character biography

When Paul met Nicola Prendergast, he began a relationship with her, but he soon had an affair with Helen Doyle. Nicola suspected that Paul was having an affair and found the pair in bed together. Consequently, Nicola slept with Donal Maher to get even, but Paul forgave her and they got married. When Nicola told Paul that she was pregnant, Paul said he was the father of Helen's child, Rachel. Disgusted by this latest revelation, Nicola threw Paul out and filed for a divorce. Helen died in a car accident, causing Nicola and Paul to rekindle their friendship. Nicola and Paul's child was born. They set up a computer business, Blue Dolphin, with Donal and Niamh Cassidy as their associates.

Niamh later became engaged to her former teacher Barry O'Hanlon, but as the wedding day was approaching, Niamh started to have second thoughts and she realised that she was in love with Paul, who was Barry's best friend. The wedding was called off, but Niamh initially decided to stay in a relationship with Barry, but she then broke up with him in public and began an affair with Paul. When Barry found out that Niamh had been two-timing him with his best friend, he began a downward spiral and spent Christmas at home drinking and feeling depressed. Niamh and Paul were shocked to see a depressed Barry arrive at their house.

Nicola, disgusted by this, wanted Niamh out of Blue Dolphin. Her mutual spite with Niamh continued for years. When the company merged with Industrial Illusions, their representative, Conor, wanted to downsize Blue Dolphin, getting rid of Niamh in the process. Donal obsigned and Niamh's job was saved. After Blue Dolphin ended its merger with Industrial Illusions, Nicola decided to become freelance, while the others continued running Blue Dolphin. When Niamh found out that Nicola had a one-night stand with Paul, Nicola and Niamh's rivalry intensified. Paul managed to become friends with Barry again, though. However, in 2005 Nicola befriended Niamh when Niamh helped Nicola get through her ordeal of surviving breast cancer.

Paul later became a shareholder of "D&B Motors", Jimmy Doyle's business. Paul kissed Jimmy's wife Robin, but he soon began an on-again-off-again affair with Fiona Piggott when he did business deals with her husband James. When Robin asked Paul to go out with her cousin, he decided to do so, as Fiona had called time on their affair. A furious Fiona became jealous of Paul's new relationship with Robin's cousin and demanded that he end it immediately. After being lured into her flat, Paul found himself unable to disagree and promptly dumped the cousin, after having a one-night stand with her. Although Keith McGrath found out about the affair, Paul lied that it was finished and he resumed his affair with Fiona.

When James discovered that he had prostate cancer, he found out about the affair and told Paul. As James' condition deteriorated, Paul decided to call time on the affair. At this time, Jimmy and Robin found out. Horrified that James knew about the affair, Fiona took matters into her own hands and murdered him in cold blood. In the aftermath of James' funeral, the shadowy elements of Fiona's past came back to haunt her when it was revealed that she was a bigamist. Her first husband, Lance, who was living in a boat, learnt of James' death. The boat's owner, Tom, found out and blackmailed Fiona into giving her money. Once again, Paul's own philandering ways proved to be his undoing when Fiona manipulated him into signing a contract with Piggotts. Although Paul eventually realised that he had been lied to, Fiona managed to flee the country and leave him to pick up the pieces. James' children, Alice and John arrived in Carrigstown and learnt of Paul's affair with Fiona. Paul told Robin that Fiona killed James and subsequently informed Alice and John.

Paul comforted Robin during her marriage difficulties in late 2007. When Jimmy left Robin, Paul helped her through the rough time. In early 2008, Robin became depressed and attempted suicide by taking an overdose of pills. Paul managed to get her to hospital on time. In May 2008, when Jimmy left for Australia, Robin began flirting with Paul. Paul felt a power struggle within the business. Ray complained about Robin having authority. Also, Ali Foley became a shareholder in the business. In a desperete bid to remain in power and to become 'Manager Directer', Paul slept with Robin. However his plan backfired when Robin managed to get Ali on side and vote for her to be the MD.

In August 2008, Oisin came to stay with him for a while. Rachel was also being difficult and not listening to Paul. Paul was under a lot of stress at work and also when Niamh asked him for a divorce. The pressure became to much for him and he suffered a heart attack. Nicola returned from Cork to look after him and Niamh took took care of Rachel while he was in hospital.

External links

* [http://www.rte.ie/tv/faircity/paul.html Profile of Paul Brennan at www.rte.ie]