DANA Rosemary Scallon’s disastrous Presidential election campaign has left her nursing a massive bill.
The singer, who spent much of her campaign in Co Donegal, was the lowest spender of all the election candidates with a final bill of €59,591.
She received donations of €12,017 but because she polled so badly she didn’t get any reimbursement from the state.
It means she has been left with a €47,500 tab which she must pay herself.
Gay Mitchell who came fourth in the race to the Áras, spent €527,152 on his campaign. He didn’t get anything back from the state.
The next biggest spender was Independent Mary Davis, who spent €414,041. She received more than €120,000 in donations. She came last and had to pay the balance herself.
The winner of the election, now President Michael D Higgins, was the third biggest spender at €359,935 and spent an astonishing €4,114 on clothing for television appearances. He got €121,421 in donations and €200,000 back from the state.
Independent Senator David Norris was the next largest spender with €331,974 going on election expenses, a third of this going to pay campaign workers. He also received €17,929 in donations. Mr Norris received no reimbursement from the state.
The runner up in the contest, Independent Sean Gallagher, was the fifth largest spender. He spent €323,318 in total and had donations of €28,759. He did reach the required threshold for reimbursement and so received €200,000 from the state.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness spent the second lowest amount, although he finished third in the election contest. His expenses totalled €302,563. Almost €3,000 of the €27,000 he spent on transport and travel was paid to Morgan Fuels, the company that owned by businessman Hugh Morgan.
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