Adams credits the 'Mary Lou factor'
Mary Lou McDonald in jubilant mood.
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SINN Fein leader Gerry Adams last night moved to highlight Mary Lou McDonald's contribution to the defeat of the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
The party pushed the Dublin MEP, who is facing re-election next year in a constituency which has been reduced from four seats to three, to the forefront of their anti-treaty campaign. As he arrived at the count centre in Dublin Castle alongside Ms McDonald, Mr Adams said his party was interpreting the 'No' result in a very positive way.
"It was very much a David and Goliath contest, or in our case a Mary Lou and Golaith contest. And Goliath lost again," he said.
The result is also a boost for Sinn Fein nationally after its disastrous performance in last year's general election, which saw its number of TDs drop from five to four.
As the only major political party to oppose the treaty, it will be hoping to build on the result in next year's local elections.
Mr Adams repeated his call for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to go back to Brussels to renegotiate the Lisbon Treaty after its rejection by the electorate.
"The people have said it wasn't good enough. The onus is now on the Taoiseach to go and get a better arrangement," he said.
He went on to say that he wanted to thank all of those who had voted in the referendum, especially those who had voted 'No'
"I want to commend all of our activists and members. I think we fought an intelligent, calm, measured campaign. We tried to concentrate on the issues and I think that's been reflected in the result."
Sinn Fein had re-organised its constituency workers in the wake of last year's general election. And according to party sources, it had been confident of a successful result due to feedback from activists.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
