‘Broken promises’ helped boost vote, says FF

Fianna Fáil said the Coalition’s “broken promises” had damaged politics and put its resurgent support down to a sense of betrayal by voters.

Senator Thomas Byrne came close to doubling his vote in Meath East by-election since the last general election, clinching second place with 33%, or 8,002 of first preference votes.

Sinn Féin’s Darren O’Rourke came third with nearly 13% or 3,165 of first preference votes, boosting overall support for the party by 40% in the constituency since 2011.

Fianna Fáil said it would now focus on the issue of “credibility” and keeping promises in the lead up to next year’s local elections.

Party leader Micheál Martin said: “What people were volunteering on the doorstep was a deep sense of betrayal.”

Voters had complained about broken promises made by Labour, including changes to child benefit and third-level fees, he said.

“We take lessons from what was learnt in the last general election too, in terms of other parties and promises that were broken.

“I don’t think that the public have a tolerance for that too much longer.” Party campaigners had picked up a lot of “anti-politics” on the doorsteps, he said.

Mr Byrne said he was very pleased with the vote, adding: “There’s real hardship out there and that message must come back from this election.”

The former TD received strong support in Kells and Slane in the north of the constituency. The party said he also took back Labour votes that Fianna Fáil lost in the last general election in towns in the south, such as Ashbourne and Dunboyne.

His final vote after transfers were added amounted to 9,582, nearly 2,000 less than winning Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee.

His strong support is likely to boost morale for the party ahead of their Árd Fhéis next month.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party was happy coming third. However, she said public confidence and politics had suffered as promises had been made and broken by the Coalition.