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	Voters Back Flynn over Fianna Fail's Ryan By Sarah McInerney The Times (United Kingdom) June 7, 2009 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6446657.ece Mannix Flynn, the writer and actor, was poised to win a seat as an independent councillor on Dublin city council last night. Flynn, who only announced his candidacy late last month, secured a huge vote in the south-east inner-city ward, beating high profile Fianna Fail and Labour candidates. The 52-year-old attracted over 1,300 first-preference votes, some 600 more than Sarah Ryan, a sitting Fianna Fail councillor and daughter of Fianna Fail MEP, Eoin. Kevin Humphreys of the Labour party took the first seat by a large majority, while Maria Parodi, Labour's new candidate in the area, also seemed certain of a seat. Last night, with the destiny of three of the four seats seemingly decided, Ryan was in danger of losing her seat, running in sixth place, according to the tallies. In the second count, Parodi benefitted most from Humphrey's surplus, taking almost 50% of the 700 votes, bringing her to 1,348 votes. Flynn picked up just 74 transfers, leaving the duo neck-and-neck for the second seat, with Flynn leading slightly at 1,460 votes. As a child, Flynn spent 18 months in the Christian Brothers' industrial school in Letterfrack, Co Galway, where he was abused. The Ryan Commission report, which exposed the extent of abuse in such institutions, was published during the election campaign. Flynn said his life history would serve as a "template" for others and vowed to "lead by example". "A lot of people now are having difficulties not unlike the difficulties I had and need to feel they can make a difference," he said. Flynn based his campaign on issues of homelessness and the building of communities.
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