Liadh Ní Riada concedes defeat in European elections
Vote counters in Cork have begun redistributing the votes of Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada this morning after she conceded defeat in the Ireland South constituency.
Sinn Féin had requested a full recount last week after four days of counting left just 327 votes between Ms Ní Riada and Grace O’Sullivan of the Green Party.
However, the party withdrew its request yesterday evening, meaning Ms Ní Riada has lost her seat in Europe after first being elected in 2014.
Vote counters in Nemo Rangers will now begin the process of redistributing her 98,379 votes, which will determine whether the fourth seat in the constituency goes to Ms O’Sullivan or Fine Gael’s Deirdre Clune. Whoever takes the fifth and final seat will have to wait until after the UK leaves the EU, currently scheduled for 31 October, to take up their position in Brussels.
Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly and Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher have already been elected in Ireland South, with Independents 4 Change’s Mick Wallace on course to take the third seat.
In a statement following her concession, Ms Ní Riada congratulated Ms O’Sullivan: “I want to warmly congratulate Grace on her election to the European Parliament. I am happy that the democratic process has delivered the clarity, we sought given that the initial difference was so tight.”
Thanking Returning Officer Martin Harvey for his work during the counts, she also said: “We ran a hard fought campaign and we left everything on the pitch. Unfortunately, we came up short this time around. I want to express my undying gratitude to my office staff, my campaign team and every member of Sinn Féin and those who voted for me.
“I am incredibly proud of my term as an MEP. I always did my very best to deliver for constituents and to defend Ireland’s interests in the European Parliament. Over the past five years, Sinn Féin’s team of MEPs have stood up for equality, social justice and democracy. I am honoured that I was part of those efforts.
“For now, let me wish those elected for the coming term of the European Parliament all the very best for the work ahead.”