Fearghal McKinney


Fearghal McKinney is an Irish politician and former journalist. A member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, he sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Belfast from 2013 until his defeat at the 2016 Assembly election. He was deputy leader of the SDLP from 2015 to 2016.

Broadcasting career

McKinney was a reporter and presenter on UTV Live, joining the station in 1994. Before joining UTV, he was a journalist at The Impartial Reporter in his hometown of Enniskillen and Downtown Radio. McKinney was educated at St Michael's College, Enniskillen.
In addition to his work for UTV Live, McKinney presented the series Sunday Issue and The Issue for UTV from 2003 to 2004. He has also reported on, introduced television debates about, and co-hosted UTV's coverage of local and general elections. McKinney was nominated in 2006 for the RTS Award for Nations and Regions Presenter.
In January 2009, McKinney announced his departure from UTV, and left the station that month.

Political career

McKinney unsuccessfully contested the Parliamentary constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2010 Westminster general election for the Social Democratic and Labour Party. He was selected to replace Conall McDevitt as MLA for South Belfast and became an MLA on 16 September 2013.
McKinney has been appointed SDLP Health Spokesperson sitting on the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. He is also a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. On 14 November 2015, he was elected deputy leader of the SDLP.
Since becoming an MLA, Fearghal has raised a number of health issues within the Northern Ireland Assembly including the introduction of amendments to ban smoking in cars with children. He has also tabled a number of motions for debate on the Transforming Your Care plan, on older people's care, autism services, and mental health services.
On 25 June 2015, Fearghal was selected as an SDLP candidate for South Belfast in the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election on 5 May 2016. Which he was unsuccessful in defending the seat he inherited from Conall McDevitt.

Personal life

McKinney is married with three children and lives in Belfast.