Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 9 Feb 2020
Cónal Thomas reports from the RDS:
AS THE AFTERNOON wore on in Simmonscourt, it was all eyes on the main door as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived just after 3pm.
Just under eight hours later it would be confirmed that her party had won the biggest first preference vote in the state, a first for the party.
Rapturous applause went up in the hall as McDonald, flanked by deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, told the media the support for Sinn Fein was a “big statement of change”.
Minutes later, Sinn Fein’s Dessie Ellis was declared victorious, topping the poll in Dublin Northwest, a seat Ellis has held since 2011.
As the country reacts to the Sinn Fein surge, there were some sombre faces at the RDS, among them Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy who, although looking set to be reelected in Dublin Bay South, faced criticism with one woman telling Murphy her daughter had to emigrate as a result of the housing crisis.
As Murphy walked by the People Before Profit camp, chants of “Murphy out, Murphy out” rang out.
As it stands, it’s looking like Fine Gael will retain just one seat in this four-seat battleground constituency with Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Sinn Fein’s Chris Andrews both tipped to take seats.
With 800 votes separating Fianna Fail’s Jim O’Callaghan and Fine Gael’s Kate O’Connell, it’ll all come down to transfers. Can O’Connell make up the ground? We’re hearing it’s very unlikely.
Meanwhile, as reporters, supporters and politicians grabbed a much-needed coffee, Labour’s Aodhan O’Riordain arrived, looking pleased.
He has likely won a seat in Dublin Bay North, where Sinn Fein’s Denise Mitchell has topped the poll.
It’s a tough five-seater this one but from what we’re hearing on the ground Fianna Fail’s Sean Haughey and Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton both look set to be reelected meaning the Green Party’s David Healy and Social Democrat Cian O’Callaghan will end up battling it out for the last seat.
We’re expecting an official count here at around 6pm.
Along with Ellis and Mitchell, the big success of the day here was Sinn Fein’s Aengus O’Snodaigh who topped the poll in Dublin South Central, setting the mood for the day.
People Before Profit’s Bríd Smith is also looking safe here so we’re heading into a dog-fight between Independents4Change TD Joan Collins, Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne, the Green Party’s Patrick Costello and Fianna Fail’s Catherine Ardagh for the last two seats.
Transfers here will be key.
Shortly after ballot boxes were opened at Simmonscourt at 9am it became clear Sinn Fein leader McDonald was surging ahead in Dublin Central with her former party colleague (now independent) Christy Burke tipped to take some of her transfers.
As the morning rolled on, though, and ballot boxes were open in areas like East Wall and Phibsborough it looked like the Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan will take the second seat while Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe looks set to take the third.
That leaves Fianna Fail’s Mary Fitzpatrick, Independent Burke and Social Democrat Gary Gannon set to battle it out for the last two seats. Again, keep an eye on those transfers.
As the sun sets on Simmonscourt, we’re expecting more count announcements soon. For now, more coffee…
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
School girls converted to Islam……religion has a lot to answer for.
If there is a God I hope he/she is not as sick as these bast@rds.
Have these guys never heard of the American military. Their lifespans are about to get a hell of a lot shorter
Obama will do SFA as always.
What would you have him do Ipsum?
Hand the job over to the Israeli Military. Then he should resign,he showed where his sympathies lie at the Benghazi episode.
Please don’t tell me you are on the Benghazi boat. You realise that is false scandal which the right have blown way out of proportion. The special ops will do the job in Nigeria. Watch the cowardly EU govs jump on the bandwagon
Obama has surrounded himself with so many red lines that he can’t move. The photo of Mrs. POTUS holding a note was the only US involvement that you will see.
It will be interesting to see if Israel will openly jump in to this situation. There is a fairly substantial percentage of Nigeria who are Muslim, so this could be taken as an act of aggression by many of Israel’s Arab neighbours. Saying that, the Israelis are more than capable of defending themselves and more so maybe they won’t care. Interesting either way.
Benghazi has been “blown out of proportion”? The American President sat by for hours while their embassy was attacked, his inaction allowed four people to be mirrored and then his administration lied to cover it up. And when it was discovered Hilary Clinton passes it off as no big deal and people like you lap it up. If that doesn’t deserve to be reported in, I dunno what does.
How many free deaths does Michael D get to allow before it’s worth paying attention to?
Converted to Islam?? Religion of Peace(!) is on duty again!!!
Who Profit personally led armies in to over 30 battles and raids and who survived by looting and robbing cities which was what u did in those days.
Profit lol. Freudian slip.
Why can’t they live in peace ? What is wrong with them ? And they say islam is a religion of peace !
Islam is more than a religion, it is a complete Prophet driven guide to everything from war to finance and toilet habits.
To a degree that no other faith even comes close to reaching.
It is what makes Islam so appealing for many, a guided structure, and what gives it its military streak.
Mohammed needed fighters to prosper and survive so the sword and war is central to the faith.
The media has made done a good job hiding the fact,that the vast majority of these girls are Christian.
Was it not widely known these girls were Christian? Was that not the point of the kidnapping by these lunatics?
Where are the Expendables when you need them?
Looks like a job for the A-Team
Hectic situation exploiting young frightened children and brainwashing them to submit to Allah. I dread to consider the alternative had they not. Terrorism on another level. Sadly they may not be challenged because of the extreme corruption that exists in Nigeria. Rotten to the core!
I don’t think you need to brainwash them. You just need to threaten to kill them.
What they may not realise is that these guys are deadly serious about conversion. It’s not some political game, like pretending to care about a certain set of policies. If they attempt to convert back to Christianity, their captors will kill them anyway.
Because all worthwhile belief systems need to be backed by the threat of violence.
These guys should be destroyed with no quarter given.
Well. According to the hostage release proposal by Boko, they plan to only release the girls who have not converted to Islam.
But they say all or nearly all have converted.
So this proposal by them is bull, obviously.
Can you explain me Linda, why Muslims in Muslim countries are always suffering? As a person who was born to a moderate muslim family in a muslim community i can say that the muslims in non-muslim, atheist or even christian countries are happier than the ones in Muslim countries. I bet Quran is not applicable in Sweeden, Norway, Uk or Ireland so that’s why Muslims are happier than the ones in Saudi, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. where the Quran is fully applicable…On the other hand the fundamentlist Muslims can preach in front of GPO, i don’t think that a Christian or a follower of any other religion other than Islam can do same thing in Yemen or in any fully Muslim country. I would rather call this enjoying democracy without any religious intervention.
BTW, The lads beside the GPO have great ideas about democracy, civil&gay rights etc, they really prove that Islam is the religion of Peace(!) :)
very well said
It’s a bit scary to think that these guys are better armed than Nigeria’s military. I wonder where they get all their weaponry from?
It’s very simple, release the imprisoned ‘fighters’ in exchange for all the girls, then vaporise the horrible b’stards once the girls are safe. I don’t think anyone will miss these evil people
The Guardian has laid responsibility for this act on the altar of AGW, no joke this is the latest crackpot theory from them.
276 teen girls . You got to feel sorry for the terrorists .
ive no time for any of these organised religions people who feel the need to push their idea of god onto other people, that their view of religion is the best, and then commit sick crimes like this in the name of religion.
“Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people’s business. I live by the golden rule: Treat others as you’d want them to treat you. The religious right wants to tell people how to live.”
― Jesse Ventura
No other organised religion has caused as much trouble as Islam. By and large, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists etc… do not force people to conform to their ideas under the threat of the sword like Islam does. Don’t even bother comparing Islam to religion. It’s basically just a following of the Saudi version of Jabba the hutt.
Proof from the Qur’an
There is not a single verse in the Qur’an which says to harm another person because of their not being a Muslim. On the contrary, there are several verses which talk about respecting non-Muslims.
To further clarify the matter about forced conversion to Islam, let’s look at these verses:
“ There is no compulsion in religion…” (Qur’an, 2:256)
“Had your Lord wanted, all the people on earth would have believed. So will you force people to believe?” (Qur’an, 10:99)
“So warn them: your only task is to warn, you’re not supposed to force them.” (Qur’an, 88:21-22)
“He does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with anyone who has not fought you for your faith and driven you out of your homes, God loves the just.” (Qur’an, 60:8)
Could the Qur’an be any clearer on this issue?
Proof from the Prophet of Islam
The second source in Islam, after the Qur’an, are the statements made by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Let’s see what he said about non-Muslims and how to force them to join Islam:
“Whoever kills an innocent non-Muslim will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” [Bukhārī]
How could this statement possibly be compatible with the ridiculous idea that Islam forces itself on others? Instead, it makes it clear that no non-Muslim is allowed to be harmed because of what they believe.
Now let’s have a quote from the bible?!!!!! That really helps!!!! Respect if Muslims respected non Muslims they wouldn’t be trying to take over western society and running out non Muslims from there own area!!! They would live like westerners and NOT put down western ways!!! That’s respect, when in Rome!!! So the quaran should be shoved where the sun does nt shine!!!
Quran (3:56) – “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”
Quran (4:76) – “Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…”
Quran (8:12) – “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them”
Quran (8:65) – “O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight…”
Quran (9:14) – “Fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace…”
Quran (9:123) – “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
Quran (25:52) – “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness…”
Bukhari (52:220) – Allah’s Apostle said… ‘I have been made victorious with terror’
Muslim (1:30) – “The Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah.”
Bukhari (52:73) – “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords’.”
Bukhari (11:626) – [Muhammad said:] “I decided to order a man to lead the prayer and then take a flame to burn all those, who had not left their houses for the prayer, burning them alive inside their homes.”
Tabari 9:69 “Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us” The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.
Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: – “Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah.”
SEND IN THE SAS. Kill these creatures
Use a killing machine on a killing machine.
SEND IN THE SAS END IT
have your say