McEntee tops poll after first count
Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee topped the poll after the first count in the Meath East By-Election with 9,356 votes.
The first count has just been announced at Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA Centre by Returning Officer Mary O’Malley.
McEntee looks set to take the vacant seat caused by the death of her father Shane McEntee.
Six candidates have been eliminated- Tallon, O’Brien, Keddy, Martin, McDonagh and O’Buachalla- and their votes are now being distributed.
First count results:
McEntee (FG) 9,356
Byrne (FF) 8,002
O’Rourke (SF) 3,165
Gilroy (DDI) 1,568
Holmes (LAB) 1,112
O’Buachalla (GP) 423
McDonagh (WP) 263
Martin (NP) 190
Keddy (NP) 110
O’Brien (NP) 73
Tallon (NP) 47
Tallon, O’Brien, Keddy, Martin, McDonagh and O’Buachalla elimated.
Electorate: 64,164
Total Poll: 24,568
Total Valid Poll: 24,309
Quota: 12,155
Second Count Results:
(Distribution of votes of Keddy, Martin, McDonagh, O’Brien, O’Buachalla and Tallon)
McEntee (FG) + 191........9,547
Byrne (FF) +104……….8,106
O’Rourke (SF) +205………3,370
Gilroy (DDI) +225………1,793
Holmes (LAB) +133……..1,245
Holmes, Gilroy, and O’Rourke eliminated.