Killilea `flabbergasted' at Dana's poll success

Retiring Fianna Fail MEP for Connacht-Ulster Mr Mark Killilea has said he is "flabbergasted" at the election of Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon. He attributed part of her success to a "very strong, secretive organisation" working for her in the Galway area.

However, Mr Killilea, who holds his seat until next month, discounted the anti-abortion issue as a factor in the campaign. Last week in Galway, the issue was the focus of a row among three of the Connacht-Ulster candidates on Galway Bay FM when Ms Marian Harkin accused both Mr Joe McCartin and Dana of smearing her. In response, Dana told Ms Harkin that her own canvassers were describing her as "pro-choice".

Mr Killilea had thrown his weight behind Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Noel Treacy, following the Galway East TD's selection as a party candidate to hold on to the Fianna Fail seat. "He was the ideal choice, but his campaign may have been too short," a disappointed Mr Killilea told The Irish Times yesterday. "You can't be out campaigning when you are up in Dublin two to three days a week in the Dail."

Fianna Fail believed Dana posed most threat in the northern half of the constituency - that is, Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher's area - but both Dana and Ms Harkin made some inroads into Mr Treacy's territory. However, Mr Killilea said that the voting in both Mayo and Roscommon was particularly surprising. "We did well in Mayo County Council, and yet look at the Euro election vote there. It is an enormous drop, and something we will have to examine.

"I don't know what went wrong, but even the tallying was very poor," Mr Killilea said.

"Perhaps there was too much emphasis within the party on the local authority elections. There is an argument for not holding both elections on the same day."

Mr Killilea said Dana would have very limited influence in the European Parliament unless she joined a large political grouping.

"Even within that structure, the Independents aren't always well liked. Look at Ian Paisley - you spend your two minutes per week standing up as a voice in the wilderness in the Parliament and that is it."

Mr Killilea, who refused to discount Ms Harkin's chance of being elected until well after lunch yesterday, said the "Brian Crowley ethic" proved that a prospective candidate had to start work very early, and had to meet the electorate on every possible occasion.

"You have to be with the people all the time. I went to transition classes in schools on Fridays, I tried to keep in touch. But is a very tough station, and a horrific programme for anyone taking up the job."