Letterkenny LEA ends in disbelief with recount called for Monday morning

Letterkenny LEA will undergo a Monday morning recount after a request from one of the candidates, Mary T Sweeney.

Donal Mandy Kelly had surpassed the quota of 1,629 on the first count at 6:40pm but was not joined by those who grabbed the second and third seats till the ninth count – Sinn Féin’s Gerry McMonagle and Tomás Seán Devine of the 100% Redress Party got over the line just after midnight.

It looked as though they would be followed by the final four seats of the seven-seater by Ciaran Brogan, who had made his way to 1,621; Jimmy Kavanagh was on 1,523, Michael McBride at 1,387 and Donal Coyle with 1,116 following the 11th count.

There were only five votes between Kevin Bradley and Mary T Sweeney – 1,015 to 1,010 respectively – although they were looking like fighting it out for eighth place. 

“I received a request for a recount which I intend to accede to,” Seamus Canning, the returning officer, said at 1:30am. “So I propose to adjourn now to reconvene 10am Monday morning.”

The sorting had started at the Aura Centre from 9am with the three-seater Milford LEA, which ran alongside Letterkenny saw Declan Meehan surpass the quota at 5:20pm, followed by Pauric McGarvey and Liam Blaney taking the second and third seats less than an hour later.