Fianna Fáil fracas in the offing after Hanafin victory

The battle in Blackrock is over, but the war within Fianna Fáil over ex-minister Mary Hanafin’s decision to run in the area may be only just beginning.

On Saturday, Ms Hanafin raced to victory in the Blackrock election for Dublin’s Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, cruising to a seat despite Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s vocal opposition.

The controversial candidate was elected on the first count, behind Fine Gael’s Marie Baker, and crucially just above the official Fianna Fáil candidate, 28-year-old Kate Feeney. While Ms Feeney was also elected, taking the third of six seats, the ranking will add further venom to the public row between the pair.