Kieran Deeny
Encyclopedia
Kieran Deeny is a medical doctor turned politician from Northern Ireland
. Deeny was a Designated Other
Member
of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for West Tyrone
from 2003–11, having run on a single issue ticket of retaining the Tyrone County Hospital
in Omagh
.
Born in Downpatrick
, Deeny was educated at St. Patrick's Boy's Primary School and St. Patrick's De La Salle Grammar School, both in Downpatrick
. During this time he regularly participated in several sports, representing Ulster Schools at table tennis
, representing Down
in the Gaelic Athletic Association
and playing football in both the Irish League
and League of Ireland
in the early 1970s.
He studied at University College Dublin and worked as a general practitioner
in County Tyrone
from the mid 1980s onwards. From 2000 he also served as Chairman of Omagh and District G.P. Association and took a prominent role in the campaign to keep full medical provision at the Tyrone County Hospital
.
In the 2003 Northern Ireland assembly elections
Deeny ran as an independent candidate in West Tyrone on the sole issue of retaining the hospital and generated one of the biggest shocks of that election when he topped the poll and took a seat from the Social Democratic and Labour Party
. However, the continued suspension of the Assembly meant that Deeny was not able to directly influence decisions about the future of the hospital.
In the 2005 general election
Deeny stood for the Westminster seat, campaigning heavily against sitting MP Pat Doherty
's abstentionism and arguing that this denied the seat a voice, and received a lot of backing from many activists and supporters of both Nationalist and Unionist political parties, though all the major parties ran candidates. Deeny received over 11,000 votes and placed second in the election to Pat Doherty.
In the 2007 Assembly elections
Deeny was elected on the seventh count with 3,776 first preference votes. His campaign was again largely based on a single issue - the impending closure of the Sion Mills branch surgery.
He sat with the Alliance Party
and the Green Party's
Brian Wilson
as "United Community MLA's
".
On 16 May 2007, Deeny changed his status as an Independent to become party leader
and a member of the Independent Health Coalition in the Assembly.
Kieran is a member of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee in the Assembly.
He did not contest the 2011 Assembly election.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Deeny was a Designated Other
Designated Other
Designated Other is a label applied to a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland who identifies as neither as a Nationalist nor a Unionist...
Member
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly elected in November 2003, never met as such, since Northern Ireland's devolved government and representative institutions were suspended following the re-introduction of direct rule by the United Kingdom government on 14 October 2002....
of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
for West Tyrone
West Tyrone (Assembly constituency)
West Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
from 2003–11, having run on a single issue ticket of retaining the Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital is the main hospital in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The hospital has occupied the same site in the town since 1899.-Proposed closure:...
in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
.
Born in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, Deeny was educated at St. Patrick's Boy's Primary School and St. Patrick's De La Salle Grammar School, both in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
. During this time he regularly participated in several sports, representing Ulster Schools at table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, representing Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
and playing football in both the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
and League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
in the early 1970s.
He studied at University College Dublin and worked as a general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
from the mid 1980s onwards. From 2000 he also served as Chairman of Omagh and District G.P. Association and took a prominent role in the campaign to keep full medical provision at the Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital is the main hospital in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The hospital has occupied the same site in the town since 1899.-Proposed closure:...
.
In the 2003 Northern Ireland assembly elections
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
Deeny ran as an independent candidate in West Tyrone on the sole issue of retaining the hospital and generated one of the biggest shocks of that election when he topped the poll and took a seat from the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
. However, the continued suspension of the Assembly meant that Deeny was not able to directly influence decisions about the future of the hospital.
In the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
Deeny stood for the Westminster seat, campaigning heavily against sitting MP Pat Doherty
Pat Doherty
Patrick "Pat" Doherty is an Irish republican politician and abstentionist Member of Parliament for West Tyrone. He has been a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the same constituency since 25 June 1998...
's abstentionism and arguing that this denied the seat a voice, and received a lot of backing from many activists and supporters of both Nationalist and Unionist political parties, though all the major parties ran candidates. Deeny received over 11,000 votes and placed second in the election to Pat Doherty.
In the 2007 Assembly elections
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
Deeny was elected on the seventh count with 3,776 first preference votes. His campaign was again largely based on a single issue - the impending closure of the Sion Mills branch surgery.
He sat with the Alliance Party
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
and the Green Party's
Green Party in Northern Ireland
The Green Party in Northern Ireland is the Northern Ireland subdivision of the Irish Green Party, based on the principles of Green politics. It works in co-operation with Green parties across Europe, and was formerly a party in its own right...
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson (Northern Ireland politician)
Brian Wilson MLA is an Independent politician in Northern Ireland. He was the first member of the Green Party to be elected as member of the Northern Ireland Assembly....
as "United Community MLA's
Designated Other
Designated Other is a label applied to a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland who identifies as neither as a Nationalist nor a Unionist...
".
On 16 May 2007, Deeny changed his status as an Independent to become party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
and a member of the Independent Health Coalition in the Assembly.
Kieran is a member of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee in the Assembly.
He did not contest the 2011 Assembly election.
See also
Other doctors & health care workers elected on similar platform in Ireland and the UK:- Paudge ConnollyPaudge ConnollyPaudge Connolly is an Independent politician from County Monaghan in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency from 2002–2007....
- elected to the Dáil . - Richard TaylorRichard Taylor (UK politician)Richard Thomas Taylor FRCP is an English doctor and former politician. He served as an Independent Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest between 2001 and 2010...
- elected to the UK Parliament - Jean TurnerJean TurnerDr. Jean McGivern Turner is a former Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden....
- elected to the Scottish Parliament - Liam TwomeyLiam TwomeyLiam Twomey is an Irish Fine Gael politician and medical doctor. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency.Twomey was born in Bealad, Clonakilty in County Cork. He was educated at St...
- elected to the Dáil as an Independent (joined Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
.