FORMER SDLP leader Mark Durkan polled just five per cent of first-preference votes in Dublin for the European elections, according to an early exit poll.
Mr Durkan, who joined Fine Gael in March to contest the election for the Dublin constituency, was sitting well behind his running mate Frances Fitzgerald who polled 14 per cent in the RTÉ/TG4/RedC exit poll.
The Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe is expected to top the poll with a surprise 23 per cent of first preferences.
The Derry man was leader of the SDLP from 2001 to 2010 and deputy first minister from 2001 to 2002.
Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond told the Irish Independent he was surprised that Brexit - which was the focus of Mr Durkan's campaign - did not feature more heavily in the elections.
His running mate Frances Fitzgerald is likely to win one of four seats in the Dublin constituency.
