John Deasy (1856 – 24 February 1896) was an Irish nationalist politician whose career ended in scandal after nine years as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Political career

He was first elected to the United Kingdom House of Commons as an Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) MP for Cork City, taking the seat at a by-election on 23 February 1884 after the resignation of John Daly. At the 1885 general election, he stood in the new West Mayo constituency, winning the seat by an overwhelming majority (of 4,790 to 131 votes) over his sole opponent, a candidate of the Irish Conservative Party.Walker, op. cit. page 366 He was re-elected unopposed at the 1886 general election. When the party split on the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell in 1891, he joined the majority Anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation. He was returned with a large majority at the 1892 general election.

Downfall

Deasy's career ended in scandal. In July 1893, he was tried at the London County Sessions, on a charge of indecent assault against Ellen Lewis, a teenage servant employed at his London lodgings in 75, Warwick-street. Lewis testified that Deasy had pulled her onto the bed and tried to kiss her, but was interrupted by her employer, Mrs Kate Edith Postlethwaite (the landlady, who also gave evidence). Deasy told the court that Lewis had tripped and fallen onto the bed, and that he was helping her get up, but had offered to kiss her. Evidence of Deasy's character was offered by two MPs ( Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde and Justin McCarthy), and by Sir George Penrose, the former High Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Cork. The jury found Deasy not guilty of indecent assault, but guilty of

common assault Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally com ...

. He was ordered to pay a fine of £25 and costs. On 17 July 1893, a few days after the completion of his trial, Deasy resigned his seat by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead.

Death

He died of tuberculosis in February 1896, aged 39.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Deasy, John 1856 births 1896 deaths 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis UK MPs 1880–1885 UK MPs 1885–1886 UK MPs 1886–1892 UK MPs 1892–1895 Irish Parliamentary Party MPs Anti-Parnellite MPs People acquitted of sex crimes Political sex scandals in the United Kingdom Irish people convicted of assault Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Cork City Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Mayo constituencies (1801–1922) Tuberculosis deaths in Ireland