Dessie Larkin

Dessie Larkin
Born	Letterkenny, County Donegal
Residence	Letterkenny
Nationality	Irish
Education	St Eunan's College
Occupation	Town councillor
Employer	Letterkenny Town Council
Political party	Fianna Fáil (previously Independent Fianna Fáil)
Parents	James Larkin Eileen McGinley

Dessie Larkin is an Irish politician in the Fianna Fáil political party and currently a member of Donegal County Council representing the Letterkenny electoral area. Cllr. Larkin was the youngest ever chairperson elected to Donegal VEC. He is also a member of Letterkenny Town Council.^[1] He serves as chair of the Planning & Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee of the County Council.^[2] He is the highest paid councillor in Connacht and Ulster.^[3]

Electoral history

He was elected as Chairman of the County Council on June 27, 2005, which resulted in him representing Donegal throughout the country. He served in this position for one year. He served as Mayor of Letterkenny until June 30, 2005.^[4] He was first elected to the Town Council in 1999, as a member of Independent Fianna Fáil and also served as Town Mayor.^[5] Larkin was one of few public figures that urged against a second-term for Irish President Mary McAleese.^[6] He was illegally appointed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board in 2008 by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.^[7]

Larkin joined Fianna Fáil in 2006 with Niall Blaney.^[3]

He was educated at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny.^{[citation needed]}

Sues FAI

The Irish tabloids lead with Dessie's story

Larkin suffered severe burning to his scrotum and inner thighs during a football match October 3, 1993. In 2006 he sued the Football Association of Ireland for the injuries. The injury was caused by from the effect of the lime used to mark the football pitch.^[8]

The incident occurred when Larkin was playing a soccer match for Bonagee Celtic in the FAI Junior Cup. Larkin recalled how there was no changing or showering facilities available and when he removed his football shorts, he noticed "white stuff" in his shorts and his skin was also inflamed. After an uncomfortable drive home, Larkin applied Sudocream to his testicles, took painkillers and went to bed. The judge was told that there were no instructions from the FAI as to the amount of lime and water that should have been in the mix. The judge awarded Larkin €9000 and stated that the onus was on the FAI to ensure that players be warned to take precautions to prevent the incident from happening.^[9]

References

1. ^ Fianna Fáil Councillors for Donegal North East
2. ^ Membership of Strategic Policy Committees
3. ^ ^{a b} Top council earner to join Blaney back in FF ranks, Irish Independent, August 3, 2008
4. ^ Congratulations to Cllr Dessie Larkin
5. ^ Elections Ireland - Dessie Larkin
6. ^ President has to be elected by the people, The People, September 26, 2004
7. ^ Humiliation for Gormley over posts, Irish Independent, October 10, 2008
8. ^ Councillor gets €9,000 from FAI for lime burns, Irish Times, February 2, 2006
9. ^ Ex-mayor gets €9,000 over burns to scrotum, Irish Independent, February 3, 2006

External links

• Fianna Fáil Councillors for Donegal North East
• Elections Ireland

Persondata
Name	Larkin, Dessie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth	Letterkenny, County Donegal
Date of death
Place of death