Sinn Fein's vote increases by 3%

Sinn Fein has won more than 12% of the vote in a by-election in the Irish Republic - up almost 3% on their previous vote in the constituency.

The party's candidate, former IRA prisoner Joe Reilly was beaten into third place.

He received 9.4% of the first preference vote in the Republic's 2002 general election.

It was the first electoral test of the party since the murder of Robert McCartney and the Northern Bank raid.

Fine Gael's Shane McEntee won the by-election after defeating Fianna Fail's Shane Cassells by 2,869 votes in the fourth and final count.

Sinn Fein said it was delighted by Mr Reilly's performance after what it called "a campaign of vilification" against the party.

The seat was previously held by the former Irish prime minister, Fine Gael's John Bruton.

Mr Reilly and Labour's Dominic Hannigan were eliminated on the previous count.

In another by-election in Kildare North, independent candidate Catherine Murphy was elected on the fifth count.

Turnout in both constituencies was reported to be low with an estimated 40% of voters going to the polls in Meath, and an estimated 37% in Kildare North.