Derek Keating

Derek Keating (16 May 1955 – 6 May 2023) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Mid-West constituency from 2011 to 2016. He had also served as a local councillor for Lucan in the South Dublin County Council.

Background and early career Born on 16 May 1955

After failing as an Independent candidate for Dublin Mid-West at the 2007 general election, he joined Fine Gael in 2008, and was re-elected as a Fine Gael candidate at the 2009 local elections.

TD (2011-2016) Keating became a TD for Dublin Mid-West in February 2011, serving until 2016 alongside Leo Varadkar, in which Varadkar described Keating as a "hard-working public representative". Keating was re-elected for Fine Gael in 2011 following vote shares in his favor at 26.88 percent in the 2009 elections, which was the strongest votes in the country.

Later in December 2012, Keating returned €7,571 of expenses to the Government, following a sample audit of expenses.

Keating was accused in May 2013, in a newspaper article by a school principal in Lucan, of falsely claiming credit for getting an extension to the school. His parliamentary aide, Tommy Morris, was then investigated by the Garda Síochána for taking about 3,000 copies of the Lucan Gazette (which carried the article) from local shops and dumping them. Keating said Morris acted without his knowledge or consent. Fine Gael also condemned the action.

In July 2013, a protest held outside his home by an anti-abortion group led to him leaving as he felt threatened by their behaviour. The protestors had shouted at him to open the door and banged on his front door and windows.

Keating was diagnosed with dementia late in his life; he was reported to be "still doing 5K runs" in late 2022, but his health deteriorated quickly in the following months.