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Early election results are casting doubt on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s chances of retaining his seat in Wicklow. Current tallies show him trailing significantly behind other candidates in the four-seat constituency.
Simon Harris of Fine Gael is leading with a commanding 28% of the vote, securing his position comfortably. Sinn Fein’s John Brady is in second place with 15%, followed by Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats at 14%. Edward Timmons of Fine Gael is currently ahead of Donnelly, holding 7% of the vote.
With Harris’s substantial lead, he’s likely to secure a surplus of votes, potentially boosting Timmons’s position further and giving Fine Gael a strong chance at winning two seats in Wicklow, leaving Donnelly vulnerable.
Elsewhere in the country, the early results present a mixed picture. In Laois, Fine Gael leads with 25% of the vote, trailed by Fianna Fail and independent candidates. Dun Laoghaire shows Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill of Fine Gael likely to top the poll, while Mick Wallace faces a tough battle for re-election with a low percentage of votes.
The situation remains fluid, with further updates expected as counting continues.
