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Gabrielle McFadden, right, campaigning with Fine Gael TD, Helen McEntee. Liam Kidney
longford westmeath
Gabrielle McFadden tops Westmeath-Longford poll to win late sister's seat
McFadden’s win was emotional as she takes the place of her sister Nicky, who died from motor neurone disease in March.
Updated 02.23, 25 May
GABRIELLE McFADDEN has comfortably topped the poll in the Longford-Westmeath by-election.
McFadden received 12,365 first preference votes, just over a quarter of the total votes cast. It puts her at precisely half the quota needed to get elected. She was finally announced as the constituency’s newest TD – for Fine Gael – after midnight this morning.
McFadden is the sister of Nicky McFadden whose death led to the by-election.
In second place behind McFadden was Aengus O’Rourke who received 8,910 first preference votes. Sinn Féin’s Paul Hogan polled in third with 7,548 votes.
Two independents John McNamara and Donal Jackson were eliminated first with their transfers distributed among the rest of the candidates. Labour’s Denis Leonard has also now been eliminated and his 3,352 votes are now being distribution for the third count.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny arrived at the count centre in Keenagh, Co Longford yesterday evening in anticipation of McFadden’s election.
First published 19:53, 24 May
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