Martin criticised over MEP election strategy

With the constituency spreading from Donegal to the Dublin commuter belt, Mr Martin chose to run two candidates, but critics say picking a reasonably strong standard bearer in the East of the region, in Senator Thomas Byrne, deprived Mr Gallagher of first preference votes that may have edged him over the line.
The seat was the last in the EU to declare after a after a mammoth 16-hour recount which saw Independent MEP Marian Harkin re-elected by a margin of 275 votes over Mr Gallagher.