Embattled politician Padraig MacLochlainn. Pic by Northwest Newspix.
Embattled election candidate Padraig MacLochlainn has strongly denied suggestions that he has not been living in his native Donegal and supporting his local community.
The outgoing Sinn Fein TD is battling to save his seat as his party demanded a recheck of votes here at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.
MacLochlainn told Donegal Daily that a perception had been put out in public that he is now living in Dublin.
However he moved quickly to set the record straight.
“Like all other TDs I am required to spend 120 days in the Dail. But for the majority of those other 240 or so days I have been on the ground in Buncrana and in Donegal.
“The perception was put out there by others that I was living in Dublin but that is not the case. I have a passion for Donegal and its people and that is where I live.
“I know as a front bench spokesman that I have to fulfil certain commitments and have a certain profile but my loyalty has been and will always be to the people of Donegal,” he said.
A clearly emotional Mr MacLochlainn admitted that he was now in a dogfight with Independent Thomas Pringle for what will be the last seat in the five seat constituency.
“It will only be a handful of votes and we have to explore every avenue that we can. It is so important for us to keep Gary (Doherty) in at this stage and to see where that takes us.
“The reality is that Sinn Fein have taken 28% of the vote. The other reality is that Fianna Fail’s vote has surged nationally and that is something we have to accept,” he said.
Despite his uphill battle, Mr MacLochlainn said he will stand in any future election – be that in three months of five years.
“I will stand again. I am certain of that. Be that in another election in three months or five years, I will be on the ballot paper again.
“I have been proud to represent the people of Donegal and I will fight to represent them again,” he said.
