Mitchell hails party in election victory

Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell was tonight elected to the European Parliament for Dublin on the first count after topping the poll with a massive 90,000 votes.

Mitchell claimed the electorate had recognised his party’s European agenda.

“We presented a programme to the people, people saw us as the proven European integration party and generally Fine Gael picked serious candidates,” he said.

“Other parties, other candidates were somewhat frivolous and we have to learn that people expect us to send serious people who are interested in policy and who are experienced as legislators.”

Mr Mitchell polled 90,749 first preference votes passing the quota by more than 6,000.

His nearest rival was Fianna Fáil’s Eoin Ryan TD on 61,681 with Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald on 60,395.

The Sinn Féin candidate exceeded expectations and is expected to be elected in third place ahead of Proinsias de Rossa of the Labour party, who looks set to take the fourth seat.

Mrs McDonald said that the outcome of the poll was a fantastic result not only for herself but for the party.

“It’s a huge affirmation of our work on the ground and it’s also an affirmation of our peace strategy, and it reflects all of the good will that I’ve been feeling throughout the campaign,” she said.

She added that it was a mixture of feelings ahead of the expected declaration.

“I’m a mixture of tense, excited, ecstatic and petrified. I don’t have the words to describe the emotions to you. We polled well and I’m in the hunt for one of the seats and I just hope that comes through.”

The Green Party had been expected to land the fourth and final seat with transfers but, with candidate Patricia McKenna lying on 40,445, votes it now looks unlikely.