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SF vote suffers in Irish Republic Ganley 'to bow out of politics'
(about 4 hours later)
Sinn Fein's deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald has lost her seat in the European Parliament. Declan Ganley has said he will "bow out of political life".
The announcement came after the Libertas leader and multi-millionaire businessman failed to take a seat in the Republic's North West constituency.
He said he accepted that people had not given him a mandate to represent them in the European Parliament.
He also stated he would play no part in the second Lisbon referendum, saying it remained to be seen whether Libertas as an organisation would be involved.
On Sunday night, Mr Ganley requested a recheck of ballots over concerns that some of his votes may have been inadvertently allocated to other candidates.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald has lost her MEP seat.
It was suspected that Ms McDonald would be in a battle for the third and last seat in the Dublin constituency with Fianna Fail's Eoin Ryan.It was suspected that Ms McDonald would be in a battle for the third and last seat in the Dublin constituency with Fianna Fail's Eoin Ryan.
However, she was eliminated before him and her transfers helped get Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party elected.However, she was eliminated before him and her transfers helped get Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party elected.
In the South constituency, Sinn Fein candidate Toireasa Ferris has been eliminated after the seventh count.In the South constituency, Sinn Fein candidate Toireasa Ferris has been eliminated after the seventh count.
In Mayo, Therese Ruane, sister of Caitriona, failed to win a seat on the county council. However, she holds her seat on Castlebar town council.In Mayo, Therese Ruane, sister of Caitriona, failed to win a seat on the county council. However, she holds her seat on Castlebar town council.
'New batch''New batch'
Martin McGuinness said Ms McDonald had performed "heroically" in a constituency reduced by one seat.Martin McGuinness said Ms McDonald had performed "heroically" in a constituency reduced by one seat.
"Mary-Lou McDonald put up a valiant struggle in a constituency which was reduced from a four-seater to a three-seater," he said."Mary-Lou McDonald put up a valiant struggle in a constituency which was reduced from a four-seater to a three-seater," he said.
"We would have liked to have won the seat, but more important for us is the performance of our representatives at local government level and whether or not we are bringing forward a new batch of young leaders, who will be the future of Sinn Fein in the south.""We would have liked to have won the seat, but more important for us is the performance of our representatives at local government level and whether or not we are bringing forward a new batch of young leaders, who will be the future of Sinn Fein in the south."
BBC NI Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison said: "For the coalition parties, Fianna Fail and the Greens, these have been disastrous elections but both sets of ministers say there is no threat to the stability of the government."BBC NI Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison said: "For the coalition parties, Fianna Fail and the Greens, these have been disastrous elections but both sets of ministers say there is no threat to the stability of the government."
Libertas leader Declan Ganley came fourth in the first count of votes in the North West constituency in Ireland. The results of the local elections and two by-elections on Saturday saw the Republic's two government parties punished by the electorate.
It means he faces an uphill task to win one of its three seats.
Mr Ganley led opposition in Ireland to the Lisbon Treaty in last year's referendum.
'Under siege'
He made it clear during his election campaign that if he did not win a seat, he would step back from front-line politics and hand over to someone else to lead the anti-Lisbon campaign when Ireland votes again on the Treaty in the autumn.
Ireland is electing 12 MEPs. Mr Ganley, a multi-millionaire businessman, is running in the North West constituency - one of the largest in Europe - covering 11 different counties from Donegal to Clare.
Meanwhile, the results of the local elections and two by-elections on Saturday saw the two government parties punished by the Irish electorate.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the government had been "under siege" with the banking and economic crisis over recent months.Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the government had been "under siege" with the banking and economic crisis over recent months.
But he said Prime Minister Brian Cowen would stick to his economic reform policies.But he said Prime Minister Brian Cowen would stick to his economic reform policies.
In the local elections and by-elections Fianna Fail, the party of Mr Cowen, received 24.55% of the first preference vote, 7.5% fewer than in 2004.In the local elections and by-elections Fianna Fail, the party of Mr Cowen, received 24.55% of the first preference vote, 7.5% fewer than in 2004.
The Green Party, the junior party in the Republic's coalition government, lost all its city and county council seats in Dublin, where most of its TDs are based.The Green Party, the junior party in the Republic's coalition government, lost all its city and county council seats in Dublin, where most of its TDs are based.