Dessie Ellis
Encyclopedia
Dessie Ellis is an Irish
politician. He is a Sinn Féin
Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Dublin North West
constituency. He was a member of Dublin City Council
from 1999 to 2011.
Ellis was born in Dublin in 1953 and educated there. He later worked as a television repairman. He is a former Provisional IRA
prisoner; he was arrested in 1981 and charged with possession of explosives. He jumped bail but was arrested in Buffalo, New York
in February 1982 and extradited to Ireland where he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in Portlaoise Prison
. On 14 November 1990, after thirty-five days on hunger-strike, Ellis became the first person extradited from the Republic of Ireland
to the United Kingdom
under the 1987 Extradition Act. He went on hunger-strike in protest at efforts to send him to Britain but was extradited in the sixth week of his fast.
Ellis was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1999 for the Finglas
area. He unsuccessfully contested the 2002 general election
in the Dublin North West constituency
, and received 4,781 first preference votes (18.3%). He was again unsuccessful at the 2007 general election in the same constituency, receiving 4,873 votes (15.7%).
At the 2011 general election, he was elected to the 31st Dáil with 7,115 (21.7%) of the first-preference votes.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
politician. He is a Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Dublin North West
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
constituency. He was a member of Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
from 1999 to 2011.
Ellis was born in Dublin in 1953 and educated there. He later worked as a television repairman. He is a former Provisional IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
prisoner; he was arrested in 1981 and charged with possession of explosives. He jumped bail but was arrested in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in February 1982 and extradited to Ireland where he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison is the Republic of Ireland's only high security prison. It is located in Portlaoise, County Laois. It should not be confused with the Midlands Prison, which is a newer, medium security prison situated directly beside it....
. On 14 November 1990, after thirty-five days on hunger-strike, Ellis became the first person extradited from the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under the 1987 Extradition Act. He went on hunger-strike in protest at efforts to send him to Britain but was extradited in the sixth week of his fast.
Ellis was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1999 for the Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
area. He unsuccessfully contested the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
in the Dublin North West constituency
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
, and received 4,781 first preference votes (18.3%). He was again unsuccessful at the 2007 general election in the same constituency, receiving 4,873 votes (15.7%).
At the 2011 general election, he was elected to the 31st Dáil with 7,115 (21.7%) of the first-preference votes.