Election disaster threatens Gilmore

Labour’s humiliating collapse into fifth place in the Meath East by-election has raised question marks among some party TDs over Eamon Gilmore’s long-term leadership of the party.

Labour lost its deposit as Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee replaced her father Shane as TD three months after he took his life.

Fianna Fáil achieved a significant bounce back from their general election trouncing two years ago, but never threatened Ms McEntee’s grip on the seat from the first count.