Tyrone's Michelle Gildernew failed to get elected as an MEP in Midlands Northwest last night after losing out to Ciaran Mullooly for the last seat. The Sinn Fein woman edged ahead of the Independent Ireland candidate after benefitting hugely from transfers when her party colleague, Chris McManus, was eliminated. But Mullooly was the one to benefit when Aontu's Peadar Toibin and Fianna Fáil's Lisa Chambers were eliminated.
The former journalist was elected on the 21st count, along with Fine Gael's Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry. Luke 'Ming' Flanagan took the first seat and Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowan was elected next. Independent Ireland councillor Shane P O'Reilly, from Mullagh in Co Cavan, was delighted with Mullooly's win:
Former champion jockey Carberry, from Co Meath, was delighted with her success. She denied she ran a low-key media campaign and didn't take part in debates:
