Flanagan originally from Garrison, County Fermanagh, lives in Tempo.
Educated at St Michael's College, Enniskillen, he is a former retail manager and small-business owner.In references to the Seán Quinn case, Flanagan stated that, "It is not up to the media, to politicians or to anyone else to determine the outcome of this case.
That decision needs to be made by a judge and the sooner that happens and a clear outcome is decided, the better it will be for all concerned."In December 2015 it was announced that Mr Flanagan would not run in the May 2016 Assembly elections when he failed to gain the necessary support from delegates at a Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency selection convention.
In January 2016, at a re-convened selection convention, he was put back on the party ticket at the expense of Michelle Gildernew.
In June 2018 Mr Flanagan was awarded over five thousand pounds in damages when he was discriminated against by Citizens Advice on grounds of his political opinion.