Former Kildare TD elected as Senator

A Seanad seat has been won by the former Fine Gael Kildare North TD Anthony Lawlor.

Johnstown native Mr Lawlor (58) was elected on the first count yesterday ahead of the former Fianna Fáil Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney.

Sinn Féin members supported the Fine Gael candidate.

Lawlor was elected on the Agricultural Panel in a by-election after a vacancy was caused by the resignation of Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.

Lawlor lost his Dail seat in the last general election in 2016.

His political career began when he was co-opted to Kildare County Council in 1998, following the death of his mother Patsy.

He was elected in 1999 as an Independent Councillor for the Naas electoral area.

In 2009, he was re-elected as a Councillor, this time as a member of Fine Gael.

He later win a Dail seat in 2011, but lost it again in 2016.