POOR OLD GAY Mitchell. After missing out on the Presidency a few weeks ago, he’s now been passed over again – this time in the annual MEP Of The Year Awards.

Mitchell was nominated in the Employment and Social Affairs category of the ceremony, which was held last night at the Stanhope Hotel in Brussels. But he was passed over in favour of French representative Pervenche Berès.

However, his party colleague Mairead McGuinness fared better – taking home the gong for Agriculture and Rural Affairs from the event, which was attended by more than 350 guests.

Independent MEP Marian Harkin did better still, claiming a special award for ‘Outstanding Contribution’ for her work towards the 2011 Year of Volunteering in Europe.

Labour’s Nessa Childers was also nominated in the Health category, but lost out to Marisa Matias of Portugal.

The event was sponsored by Parliament Magazine, which reports that guests enjoyed “beer and spirits generously provided by the Brewers of Europe, Diageo and Browary Polskie”.

Gay Mitchell was eliminated at the third count in the presidential election, taking 6.4 per cent of first preference votes.