Fine Gael and Labour have just been given a glimpse of their future – and it looks terrifying

ing the means and will hope it will distance them from continuing association with terrorist atrocities.

If numbers count, then the biggest winners on Judgment Day were the independents.

More cautious voters see them as a barmy army where anger is a substitute for policy. Yet independents see themselves as Arnold Schwarzeneggers with a duty to hold an untrustworthy government to account.

And a despairing and frustrated public votes for independents because they don’t trust the political establishment. It is still too soon to quote Yeats and declare that all things have changed and changed utterly in these elections two years shy of the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

But there will be consequences and there will be blood.

The parties in coalition, and particularly their leaders, have had a glimpse of the future – and it is terrifying.

Voters’ perception of Labour’s preelection lies and its’ ministers’ slavish defence of ministers Alan Shatter, James Reilly and Phil Hogan, their Fine Gael colleagues, did for them.

Eamon Gilmore’s leadership is under threat as the bewildered party takes stock