John Jinks

Who was John Jinks?

John Jinks was an Irish politician who served briefly in Dáil Éireann.

An auctioneer and licensed grocer, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as Teachta Dála for the 7-seat Leitrim–Sligo constituency at the June 1927 general election as a representative of the National League Party.

He is most famous for having been absent, on 16 August 1927, from a crucial vote of motion of no confidence in the Executive Council. This resulted in a tied vote and the government survived only because of the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle. Many colourful stories have grown up over the years as to the means by which his absence from the voting lobbies was secured, although it seems most likely that it was, in fact, a deliberate expression of his political views. The proposed alternative government was a Labour Party/National League coalition, depending on the external support of Fianna Fáil.

The September 1927 general election rapidly followed, at which he stood as an independent candidate and was not re-elected.

In 1928 and 1934, he was elected to Sligo County Council as a Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael candidate respectively.