{{Short description|Irish politician (c.1970–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dessie Larkin | image = | caption = | birth_date = c. 1970 | birth_place = Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland | death_date = <!--{{death date and given age|2019|03|18|48 or 49|df=y}}-->18 March 2019 | death_place = County Donegal, Ireland | education = St Eunan's College | party = Fianna Fáil | spouse = Mary Larkin | children = 4 | other_party = Independent Fianna Fáil | father = James Larkin }} '''Dessie Larkin''' (c. 1970{{NoteTag|News coverage at the time of his death disagrees on whether he was 48 or 49. His birth year could be 1969, 1970, or 1971.{{refn|name="donegal news"}}{{refn|name="donegal daily"}}}} – 18 March 2019) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/03/19/tributes-flow-in-for-proud-letterkenny-man-dessie-larkin/|title=Tributes flow in for proud letterkenny man Dessie Larkin|work=Donegal Daily|date=19 March 2019|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-date=20 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320200114/https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/03/19/tributes-flow-in-for-proud-letterkenny-man-dessie-larkin/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a member of Donegal County Council representing the Letterkenny electoral area from 1999 to 2014.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5692|title=Dessie Larkin|website=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225162125/https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5692|url-status=live}}</ref> He served as the County Council's chair of the Planning & Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccdhunnangall.ie/council/Electoral+Area/spcmembership.htm|title=Membership of Strategic Policy Committees|access-date=2008-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119004228/http://www.ccdhunnangall.ie/council/Electoral+Area/spcmembership.htm|archive-date=2007-11-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the highest paid councillor in Ulster.<ref name="joinsff">{{cite news|first=Fionnan|last=Sheahan|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-council-earner-to-join-blaney-back-in-ff-ranks-81458.html|title=Top council earner to join Blaney back in FF ranks|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=3 August 2006|access-date=5 December 2008|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016172716/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-council-earner-to-join-blaney-back-in-ff-ranks-81458.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Larkin was the youngest ever chairperson elected to Donegal VEC. He was also a member of Letterkenny Town Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/constituency.phpx?aid=109|title=Fianna Fáil Councillors for Donegal North East|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412213258/http://www.fiannafail.ie/constituency.phpx?aid=109|archivedate=2008-04-12}}</ref>
==Biography== Born and raised in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Larkin was educated at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegalnow.com/news/shock-sudden-passing-well-known-former-public-representative-dessie-larkin/271665|title=Update: Funeral arrangements for the late Dessie Larkin, well known former public representative|work=Donegal Now|date=18 March 2019|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319151315/https://www.donegalnow.com/news/shock-sudden-passing-well-known-former-public-representative-dessie-larkin/271665|url-status=live}}</ref> He has worked in Unifi and been Chairman of the Peace III Partnership Board and Chairman of the Donegal County Development Board. He was married with four children.<ref>{{cite news|first=Caoimhe|last=Ní Chathail|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/06/29/my-donegal-with-mayor-of-letterkenny-dessie-larkin/|title="My Donegal" – with Mayor of Letterkenny Dessie Larkin|work=Donegal Daily|date=29 June 2012|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234136/http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/06/29/my-donegal-with-mayor-of-letterkenny-dessie-larkin/|url-status=live}}</ref>
First elected to the Town Council as a member of Independent Fianna Fáil in 1999, he also served as Town Mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5692&sort=party&office=yes|title=Dessie Larkin|work=ElectionsIreland.org|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309183354/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=5692&sort=party&office=yes|archivedate=9 March 2015}}</ref> He was elected as Chairman of the County Council on 27 June 2005, which resulted in him representing Donegal throughout the country. He served in this position for one year. Until 30 June 2005 he was Mayor of Letterkenny.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.damienblake.com/2005/06/congratulations-to-cllr-dessie-larkin/|title=Congratulations to Cllr Dessie Larkin|work=Damien Blake|date=27 June 2005|accessdate=27 June 2005|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309183224/http://www.damienblake.com/2005/06/congratulations-to-cllr-dessie-larkin/|archivedate=9 March 2015}}</ref> Larkin joined Fianna Fáil in 2006 alongside Niall Blaney.<ref name="joinsff"/>
He died on 18 March 2019.<ref name="donegal news">{{cite web|url=https://donegalnews.com/2019/03/letterkenny-stunned-at-sudden-death-of-dessie-larkin/|title=Letterkenny stunned at sudden death of Dessie Larkin|work=Donegal News|date=18 March 2019|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-date=20 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320204721/https://donegalnews.com/2019/03/letterkenny-stunned-at-sudden-death-of-dessie-larkin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="donegal daily">{{Cite web|title=A town of tears as Dessie Larkin is laid to rest|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/03/22/a-town-of-tears-as-dessie-larkin-is-laid-to-rest/|last=Stephen|date=22 March 2019|website=Donegal Daily|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927015010/https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/03/22/a-town-of-tears-as-dessie-larkin-is-laid-to-rest/|archive-date=27 September 2021|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>
==''Larkin v. the Football Association of Ireland''== During a football match played on 3 October 1993, Larkin suffered severe burning to his scrotum and inner thighs. In 2006, he sued the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). His injuries resulted from the lime used to mark the football pitch burning his scrotum and inner thighs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0203/1137626821994.html|title=Councillor gets €9,000 from FAI for lime burns|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|date=2 February 2006|access-date=5 December 2008|archive-date=9 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309183116/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/councillor-gets-9-000-from-fai-for-lime-burns-1.1010313|url-status=live}}</ref>
The burning occurred when Larkin was playing a soccer match for Bonagee Celtic Football Club in the FAI Junior Cup. Larkin recalled the lack of changing or showering facilities. He removed his football shorts only to notice "white stuff like Alka-Seltzer" in his shorts. His skin was also inflamed. After an uncomfortable drive home, Larkin applied Sudocrem to the affected area, took painkillers and went to bed. The judge in the case was told there were no instructions from the FAI regarding the amount of lime and water to be included in the mix. The judge awarded Larkin €9,000, also stating that the onus was on the FAI to ensure players were sufficiently warned to take precautions to prevent such incidents happening.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kate|last=Heaney|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/exmayor-gets-9000-over-burns-to-scrotum-111208.html|title=Ex-mayor gets €9,000 over burns to scrotum|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=3 February 2006|access-date=5 December 2008|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016172856/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/exmayor-gets-9000-over-burns-to-scrotum-111208.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Expenses and appointment controversies== Former environment minister John Gormley illegally appointed Larkin to the Private Residential Tenancies Board in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|first=Senan |last=Molony |authorlink=Senan Molony |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/humiliation-for-gormley-over-posts-1494980.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803145812/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/humiliation-for-gormley-over-posts-1494980.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |title=Humiliation for Gormley over posts |newspaper=Irish Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |date=10 October 2008 |accessdate=10 October 2008 }}</ref>
Donegal County Council and several media outlets, including Highland Radio, received documentation alleging Larkin was involved in irregularities in expenses payments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandradio.com/2012/08/10/cllr-larkin-will-fully-co-operate-with-council-over-expenses-claims/|title=Cllr Larkin will fully co-operate with Council over expenses claims|work=Highland Radio|date=10 August 2012|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-date=9 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309182928/http://www.highlandradio.com/2012/08/10/cllr-larkin-will-fully-co-operate-with-council-over-expenses-claims/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Notes== {{NoteFoot}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Larkin, Dessie}} Category:2019 deaths Category:Fianna Fáil local councillors Category:Mayors of Letterkenny Category:Members of Donegal County Council Category:People educated at St Eunan's College Category:Independent Fianna Fáil local councillors Category:Year of birth uncertain