Crowley secures first seat in Ireland South

Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley has been elected after the fourth count of the votes in the European elections of the Ireland South constituency.

Fine Gael's Sean Kelly is expected to be elected in second place.

Labour's Alan Kelly still has a lead of more than 2,000 votes over Sinn Féin's Toireasa Ferris in the race for the third seat there.

Independent Kathy Sinnott is a further 3,000 votes behind in that race while sitting Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke has lost his battle to retain his seat after being eliminated.

(Fourth Count) - Distribution of Ned O’Keefe’s votes

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Brian Crowley (FF) 132,410

Sean Kelly (FG) 97,482

Toireasa Ferris (SF) 68,296

Alan Kelly (Lab) 70,309

Kathy Sinnott (Ind Si) 65,518

Colm Burke (FG) 57,884

***

Elected: Brian Crowley

The declared European election results so far are:

Dublin: Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell, Labour’s Prionsias de Rossa and Socialist Joe Higgins elected.

East: Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness elected.

South: Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley elected.