Carndonagh LEA: Albert Doherty pleased at result in face of Redress ‘blitz’

Sinn Féin county councillor Albert Doherty has said the results of the election in Inishowen have sent a message to the Government over the defective blocks crisis.

He retained his seat in the four-seat Carndonagh local electoral area after picking up just shy of 1,000 first preferences.

With Ali Farren of 100% Redress and Martin McDermott of Fianna Fáil elected on the first count, the Carndonagh councillor was left to fight it out with outgoing councillors Johnny McGuinness of Fine Gael and Martin Farren of Labour to take the last two seats. He was pushed over the line in count six after the elimination of his running mate Toni Devine and independent candidate Paul Barry MckInney with a massive 473 transfers.

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The outgoing Fine Gael councillor has questioned the procedures used to eliminate candidates during the count

His vote fell by more than 150 compared to 2019 and he described the surge of support for the 100% Redress Party as “a blitz” and “a whirlwind”.

He said the extent of the vote for the 100% Redress Party was a surprise, adding that votes were lent to the new party by voters and then returned in transfers.

“The issue was, does and will remain a significant issue to be addressed,” he said.

“The people have said that in numerous the votes that candidates got. 

“Our vote has increased in north  Inishowen and south Inishowen and that's the message for the Government - that matter is still unfinished business.

“When you reflect you see how critical this issue is for many families in the peninsula, in the county and on the western seaboard.”

He paid tribute to Toni Devine who he said “did a powerful job in ensuring the result we have here in north Inishowen”.