‘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.