Sinn Féin has laid down a marker in Meath East – Adams
Speaking in Ashbourne this evening following the count in
the Meath East By Election, Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams said:
“I wish to congratulate Helen McEntee on her victory. I know this will be a bittersweet
moment for her and her family.
“I want to thank all those who voted for Sinn Féin and I want to commend Darren
O'Rourke and the Sinn Féin team for the effort they put in.
“The media pushed this by-election as a two-horse race from the beginning. They
persuaded many anti-government voters that voting Fianna Fáil was the only way
to give the government a bloody nose.
“The drop in support for Labour is indicative of their abysmal performance in
government. They have failed the people, have broken promises and as a result
Labour voters clearly did not go to the polls.
“The low turnout is a concern. It shows the level of disillusionment out there.
I think it was wrong to have cut the polling hours, particularly in a
constituency where so many people commute for work. It made it hard for people
to exercise their right to vote and makes a mockery of supposed government
commitments to political reform.
“There is real anger out there about the unfairness of the property tax. All
candidates would have heard this on the door. I hope those TDs from government
parties reflect on what they have heard in this election.
“The clear increase in support for Sinn Féin is very welcome. Darren O'Rourke
was a brand new candidate. The result is a significant increase on our 2011
general election result which was our best ever in this state.
“Sinn Féin and Darren O'Rourke have laid down a clear marker for the future in
this constituency.”
ENDS