Danny Kinahan Explained

Danny Kinahan
Office:Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland
Term Start:27 August 2020
Term End:5 September 2024
Predecessor:Office established
Successor:Vacant
Office1:Member of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Constituency1:Ballyclare
Term Start1:2 May 2019
Term End1:2 September 2020
Predecessor1:James Bingham
Successor1:Norrie Ramsay
Office2:Member of Parliament
for South Antrim
Term Start2:8 May 2015
Term End2:3 May 2017
Predecessor2:William McCrea
Successor2:Paul Girvan
Office3:Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Antrim
Assembly3:Northern Ireland
Term Start3:1 June 2009
Term End3:24 June 2015
Predecessor3:David Burnside
Successor3:Adrian Cochrane-Watson
Office4:Member of Antrim Borough Council
Constituency4:Antrim South East
Term Start4:5 May 2005
Term End4:5 May 2011
Predecessor4:Edgar Wallace
Successor4:Paul Michael
Birth Name:Daniel de Burgh Kinahan
Birth Date:14 April 1958
Birth Place:Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Party:Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse:Anna
Children:4
Alma Mater:University of Edinburgh
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Allegiance: United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Unit:Blues and Royals
Rank:Captain

Daniel de Burgh Kinahan (born 14 April 1958) is a British army officer and former Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who was Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland between 2020 and 2024.

Kinahan served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim from 2015 to 2017.

Additionally, Kinahan was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for South Antrim from 2009 to 2015.

Early life and personal life

He is the son of Sir Robin Kinahan and Coralie de Burgh and was educated at Craigflower Preparatory School (Torryburn), Stowe School and the University of Edinburgh. He is a cousin of singer Chris de Burgh.[1] Professionally, Kinahan is an antiques expert and worked as Christie's auctioneers' Irish representative.[2]

He lived for many years with his wife and four children at Castle Upton, Templepatrick but in 2016 announced he was selling the family home to downsize following the moving out of his children.

Political Career

Northern Ireland Assembly and local government

In 2005 he was elected to Antrim Borough Council, and on 28 May 2009 the UUP South Antrim branch selected Kinahan to replace the outgoing MLA David Burnside who resigned to pursue business interests. Burnside officially stood down on 1 June. Kinahan was sworn in on 9 June.[3]

Kinahan faced his first NI Assembly election in May 2011 and was elected with 3,445 first preference votes. During his second period in Stormont, he was heavily involved in education legislation as the UUP's spokesperson on the policy area.

As Deputy Chair of the Education Committee, Kinahan became a leading figure during the passage of the Education Bill. He also opposed the Sinn Féin policy of scrapping grammar schools, arguing instead for academic capability streaming.

Kinahan also expressed strong support in favour of shared and integrated education, greater emphasis on STEM subjects, a wider selection of apprenticeships, stronger provision of careers advice and more thorough and engaging university degrees.

Kinahan was the only UUP MLA to support legalising same-sex marriage, making a speech on the issue at Stormont, which many deemed risky just weeks out from the Westminster election, which he eventually won.[4]

He stepped down from the Assembly after his election to Westminster, and was replaced by Adrian Cochrane-Watson.[5]

Kinahan made his return to elected politics at the 2019 Council elections, topping the poll in the Ballyclare DEA.[6] [7]

Member of Parliament

The UUP decided to run Kinahan in the 2015 general election, and he ousted the incumbent Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP William McCrea with a majority of 949. [8] [9]

Kinahan backed a remain vote during the 2016 Brexit referendum.[10]

He was defeated by the DUP's Paul Girvan at the 2017 general election, following a resurgence in the DUP's vote in that election.[11] [12]

Kinahan re-contested his former seat at the 2019 general election, losing out to Girvan by 2,689 votes.[13] [14]

Veterans Commissioner of Northern Ireland

In August 2020, he was appointed Northern Ireland's first Veterans Commissioner.[15] He resigned from the role in September 2024, citing he “cannot provide the independent voice that veterans require”.[16]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hello . Billy Kennedy's election predictions continue... . https://archive.today/20121203052756/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Billy-Kennedy39s-election-predictions-continue.2099214.jp . dead . 3 December 2012 . The Newsletter . 2007-03-06 . 2016-08-04 .
  2. Web site: Queen's University Belfast, Antiques Evening. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828165100/http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/Alumni/Events/PastEvents/2006Events/AntiquesEvening/. dead. 28 August 2008.
  3. Web site: UUP select Burnside replacement . BBC News . 2009-05-27 . 2016-08-04.
  4. Web site: Back to basics: Danny Kinahan. 4 September 2019.
  5. Web site: Lorna McKay lorna.mckay@jpress.co.uk . Watson new South Antrim MLA . Antrimtimes.co.uk . 2015-06-24 . 2016-08-04 . 26 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626145143/http://www.antrimtimes.co.uk/news/local-news/watson-new-south-antrim-mla-1-6814846 . dead .
  6. Web site: Back to basics: Danny Kinahan. agenda ni. September 2019. 23 October 2024.
  7. News: Kinahan comes full circle with council seat. Belfast Telegraph. 5 May 2019. 23 October 2024.
  8. News: UUP's Danny Kinahan hails South Antrim win. BBC News. 8 May 2015. 23 October 2024.
  9. Web site: Election result for South Antrim (Constituency). UK Parliament. 23 October 2024.
  10. News: EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand. BBC News. 22 June 2016. 23 October 2024.
  11. News: Constituency Profile: DUP's Paul Girvan unseats incumbent UUP MP in South Antrim. Irish News. 23 October 2024.
  12. News: Election results 2017: DUP and Sinn Fein celebrate election gains. BBC News. 9 June 2017. 23 October 2024.
  13. Web site: Election for the constituency of South Antrim on 12 December 2019. UK Parliament. 23 October 2024.
  14. News: South Antrim results - General Election 2019. Belfast Telegraph. 23 October 2024.
  15. News: Danny Kinahan appointed as NI's first veterans commissioner. BBC News. 27 August 2020.
  16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y5327mjxzo