Michael Fahy facts for kids

Michael Fahy (1951 – 2 April 2019) was an Irish farmer and a well-known politician. He was a member of the Galway County Council for many years, representing the Fianna Fáil party. Sometimes, he also ran as an Independent candidate. Michael Fahy was first elected to the council in 1979 and served the community of Ardrahan and wider Galway for a long time. He passed away in 2019.

Michael Fahy's Life and Public Service

Early Years and Community Work

Michael Fahy was born in 1951. He owned a 70-acre farm, which means he was a farmer. Before becoming a full-time politician, he also worked as a salesman.

He cared about his community and took on important roles. In 1978, he became a Peace Commissioner. This role means he could witness signatures on legal documents and help with local justice. He also served on the visiting committee for Limerick Prison until 2004, which involved looking after the welfare of prisoners.

Political Journey and Elections

Michael Fahy was very involved in politics. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party for most of his career. In 1987, he ran for election to the Dáil Éireann (Ireland's main parliament) as an independent candidate. Later, he rejoined Fianna Fáil.

During the 2004 local elections, there was some discussion because he used official envelopes for his campaign. He explained that he wanted to show he had support from other politicians.

The "Stroke" Nickname

Michael Fahy was known by the nickname "Stroke." This nickname came from a local journalist in the 1970s. It happened after he managed to get his name added to the local election list for Fianna Fáil, even though the local party had left him out. It showed he was good at political moves.

An advertisement during his 1987 election campaign even used the headline "The 'Stroke' For Galway West." However, later in his life, especially after some legal challenges, Michael Fahy asked the media to stop using this nickname. He felt it was no longer appropriate and wanted to be known by his proper name.

Challenges and Appeals

In 2004, Michael Fahy resigned from Fianna Fáil due to an investigation. This investigation was about a road project near his farm. There was a discussion about some fencing that was put up on his land as part of the project. He later paid back some money to the council and apologized. He also donated money to a charity.

After a police investigation, a court case took place in 2007. A jury found him responsible for some issues related to the project. He was sentenced to a period in prison and fined. However, he appealed this decision.

In November 2007, a higher court, the Court of Criminal Appeal, looked at his case again. They decided that some evidence used in the first trial was not relevant and could have unfairly influenced the jury. Because of this, his conviction was overturned, and a new trial was ordered.

At the new trial in 2008, some charges were dropped. He was found not guilty on most charges, but guilty on one related to obtaining a benefit from the council. He was sentenced to the time he had already served and fined again. He appealed this decision too.

Finally, in May 2011, the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that his conviction was "unsafe." This meant the evidence presented was not strong enough, and no further trial was ordered. This decision cleared his name.

Later Political Career

Despite these challenges, Michael Fahy remained a popular figure in his community. He was re-elected to the Galway County Council in the 2009 local elections, even getting the most votes in his area.

He was also re-elected in the 2014 local elections. After this, he considered rejoining Fianna Fáil, which he did in 2018. At the time of his death in 2019, he had been chosen to run for the party in the upcoming local elections. Michael Fahy served his community for many years, showing great dedication to local politics.