Fine Gael candidate for presidential election announced

Gay Mitchell has secured the Fine Gael nomination over fellow contenders Mairead McGuinness and Pat Cox.

GAY MITCHELL MEP has secured the Fine Gael nomination for the presidential election.

Party members cast their votes this afternoon at the Regency Hotel in Swords, with Mitchell beating fellow contenders MEP Mairead McGuinness and former independent MEP Pat Cox.

The party leadership was accused of covertly backing Cox in the run up to voting, despite party leader Enda Kenny insisting he would not pledge support to any particular candidate.

Mitchell expressed his gratitude on Twitter after hearing the news, saying “My sincere thanks to those who voted for me. We need to unite as a party. the real work starts here.”

Read: Fine Gael convention to decide on Áras candidate… finally >

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