He was born as John Jenk, to Patrick Jenk (also Jinks), a farmer, and Bridget Gilmartin, of
Drumcliff,
County Sligo. An auctioneer and licensed grocer, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as
Teachta Dála (TD) for the 7-seat
Leitrim–Sligo constituency at the
June 1927 general election for the
National League Party. He is most famous for his absence from a crucial vote on 16 August 1927. The
Labour Party had proposed a
motion of no confidence in the
Cumann na nGaedheal Executive Council. They proposed an alternative coalition government with the National League, supported by
Fianna Fáil, which had just entered the Dáil. Jinks's abstention resulted in a tied vote (71–71) and the government survived on the
casting vote of the
Ceann Comhairle. His absence had been unannounced and unauthorised by the party. Many colourful stories have grown up over the years as to the means by which his absence from the voting lobbies was secured. It has been written that two fellow Sligomen and Protestants, Major
Bryan Cooper and
Bertie Smyllie of
The Irish Times "induced" Jinks to take the train back to Sligo that morning and absent himself from the vote lest his constituents discover he had voted for
Éamon de Valera. He afterwards explained that he had been opposed to the proposed alliance between the National League, Labour and
Fianna Fáil, but did not want to create a split by voting against the party or by announcing his decision in advance. He described the "sensational rumour" of a kidnapping as "sheer invention". Jinks resigned from the National League on 18 August, stating that he could not "remain any longer a member of a party from which my political outlook so distinctly differs". After Cumann na nGaedheal won two by-elections held on 24 August, a new general election was called. In the
September 1927 general election, he stood as an
independent candidate, but was not re-elected. In 1928 and 1934, he was elected to
Sligo County Council as a
Cumann na nGaedheal and
Fine Gael candidate respectively. A racehorse,
Mr Jinks, was named after him and had some success in races in England. ==References==