Martin Kenny | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kenny in 2024 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Sligo–Leitrim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-10-01)1 October 1971 (age 54) Sligo, Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse | Helen Kenny |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Institute of Technology, Sligo |
Martin Kenny (born 1 October 1971) is an IrishSinn Féin politician who has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theSligo–Leitrim constituency since the2016 general election.[1][2]
Prior to entering politics, Kenny worked inhorticulture, growing mushrooms and providing advice to other farmers. He later moved into community work.[3]
Kenny became a member ofLeitrim County Council in 2001, when he was co-opted to replace Liam McGirl, the son of formerSinn Féin TDJohn Joe McGirl.[4] He previously served on Sinn Féin's ard comhairle.[5] Kenny sought the nomination to be Sinn Féin's candidate in the2014 European Parliament election in Ireland in theNorth-West constituency, butMatt Carthy was selected.[6]
He was Sinn Féin's candidate in the2014 Roscommon–South Leitrim by-election,[7] in which he received 5,906 votes (17.7%) and was eliminated on the fifth count.[8] He ran in the newSligo–Leitrim constituency in the 2016 general election and was elected, with 6,356 votes (10.2%).[9]
In May 2016, Kenny alleged a number of serious instances of misconduct within theGarda Síochána. The main allegations included that gardaí were engaging informants who were active criminals, outside the GardaCovert Human Intelligence Sources programme. He also mentioned a number of instances including "robberies allegedly carried out by informants under the direction of gardaí", cases ofentrapment made at the behest of Garda handlers,[10] and an instance where "senior gardaí did not inform other members of the force of plans by a criminal gang to carry out attacks at the homes of gardaí".[11]
He also stated that two Gardaí had brought this to the attention of bothMartin Callinan (formerCommissioner of the Garda Síochána) and the formerMinister of Justice,Alan Shatter, but their concerns were ignored.[11][12]
Kenny was re-elected in 2020, topping the poll with 15,035 votes (24.8%) and being elected on the first count.[13]
At the2024 general election, Kenny was re-elected to the Dáil.
In October 2019, Kenny said he had received death threats after he spoke out inDáil Éireann againstfar-right elements in Irish society usinganti-immigrant rhetoric. Kenny's remarks were spurred by the aftermath of the2019 Grays incident, and recent protests against the building of adirect provision centre in his own constituency inCounty Leitrim as well other protests in Ireland against the construction of direct provision centres.[14] On 28 October 2019, Kenny's car was set ablaze outside his family home.[15][16] In an interview withOcean FM he described the arson attack as "traumatic" and feared that he was facingthe same fate as Kevin Lunney.[17]
In October 2021, a threat of gun violence was made to Kenny's office.[18] In October 2022, a man was charged with causing criminal damage to the gates of Kenny's home.[19]
Kenny is married to Helen, and the couple have four adult children.[20]