Full recount in Longford/Westmeath

Fianna Fáil candidate Connie Gerety-Quinn has called for a complete re-examination of all ballot papers and a full recount of votes in the Longford/Westmeath constituency.

After the result of Count 12 was announced at the count centre in Kenagh, Gerety-Quinn, on 5,917 votes, was 38 votes behind outgoing Fine Gael TD James Bannon (5,955), and due to become the 12th candidate eliminated. 

However, Fianna Fáil and Ms Gerety-Quinn sought a recount and Returning Officer Imelda Branigan agreed to the request and has announced that the recount will begin from 9pm. 

Following the distribution of James Morgan’s 4,339 votes, the six candidates left in the race for the three seats to be filled, were on the following totals ;

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran (Independent Alliance) 10,108

Peter Burke (Fine Gael) 7,633

Paul Hogan (Sinn Féin) 6,643

Willie Penrose (Labour) 6,360

James Bannon (Fine Gael) 5,955

Connie Gerety-Quinn (Fianna Fáil) 5,917

Poll topper, Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy had previously been elected on the 1st Count, securing 11,655 first preferences, thereby exceeding the 11,056 quota by 599 votes.

The eleven candidates that had been eliminated were;

Count 11 - James Morgan (Independent Alliance)

Count 10 - Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael)

Count 9 - Mae Sexton (Independent)

Count 8 - Manchán Magan (Green Party)

Count 7 - Brian Fagan (Independent Alliance)

Count 6 - Noel McKervey (Catholic Democrats) 

Count 5 - Dominic Parker (Anti Austerity Alliance / People Before Profit), 

Count 4 - Barbara Smyth (Independent - Right2Change) 

Count 3 - James Miller (Public Banking Alliance) 

Count 2 - Stephanie Healy (Direct Democracy Ireland) & Donal Jackson (Independent).