'Absolutely thrilled' Mary Hanafin elected

Former Minister Mary Hanafin has been elected for Fianna Fáil to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Kate Feeney looks set to take a second seat for Fianna Fáil in that ward.

Speaking after she was elected, a very emotional Mary Hanafin said she was thrilled.

"It's a very emotional event to be elected," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm absolutely thrilled. It was a very personal campaign."

Earlier, Ms Hanafin said she was not concerned that her comeback was local rather than national.

"I never went away, you know," she laughed. "From the outset of this, it didn't matter to me whether I was a teacher in Blackrock, a TD, a Minister or a (local) councillor. It's still the same Mary Hanafin who's happy to work for the people of the area."

Her candidacy was a controversial one, after she was asked on a number of occasions to step aside by party leader Micheál Martin, in favour of a single-candidate policy. Hanafin refused to do so.