‘Official objection’ lodged by Johnny McGuinness over Carndonagh count

Outgoing Fine Gael county councillor Johnny McGuinness has said he has lodged “an official objection” with Donegal County Council over “the process” of the count in the Carndonagh local electoral area.

The Culdaff-based candidate lost his seat after seven counts, ultimately losing the fourth seat to Labour’s Martin Farren. 

Co-opted into the seat that had been held by his late father Bernard, who died in 2021, he was struggling from the first count after taking 736 first preferences and did not recover enough votes to take the fourth seat.

He said he has objected to the procedure around the elimination of candidates, which he believes could have had an impact on the outcome.

Mr McGuinness has objected to the use of an article which allowed the elimination of Toni Devine of Sinn Féin and independent Paul Barry McKinney in count five. He feels the fact the article was not used in a previous count could have affected the final outcome.

“We have lodged a formal objection against the process,” he said. 

“We have got no issue with the counting or the manner in which that element of the count was handled and managed and the proficiency and professionalism of the staff involved in the count. The procedural elimination was not appropriate and was not fair.”

Carndonagh LEA: Martin Farren dedicates election victory to his late wife

The Moville-based Labour Party councillor retained his seat on the final count

He said he did not call for a recount during the count at Carndonagh Community School as “the validity and accuracy of the count is unquestionable”. 

“We did not have any issue with the numbers themselves. We had an issue with the process that was employed. We don’t think it was fair. We don’t think it was transparent.” Donegal County Council has been contacted over Mr McGuinness’s comments.

Despite the result, he said he is “very proud” of the vote he received “in a very difficult climate as a Government representative”. He said the vote was down to a huge effort by his family, friends and supporters.

“I probably lost a third of my vote and I made up that gap with a personal vote, a unique vote, maybe a vote that we haven't had before. 

“I believe I received a cross-party vote that I didn't have there before and it was only with the addition of those votes that I was in the running in the first place.”