John O’Donnell is going back to Lifford after topping the Milford poll in the 2019 Local Elections.
The Kilmacrennan man, with 1,959 first preference votes, is the first county councillor to be elected to the new Donegal County Council.
John O’Donnell and team celebrate his election to Donegal County Council 2019
‘The people have spoken’ is the mantra of O’Donnell today as he returns to county council just months after the Standards in Public Office found against him over ethics breaches.
Controversy surrounds O’Donnell after he featured in an RTE Investigates report in 2015.
He was filmed in a meeting with an undercover reporter who was pretending to seek support for a local windfarm development. In a ruling this March, SIPO found that O’Donnell made it clear that a financial reward would be required for his involvement in the project.
O’Donnell celebrated his resounding victory in the Milford count with supporters at the Aura this afternoon, where cheers filled the centre when the results were announced.
He will be followed by Liam Blaney (Fianna Fáil) at 1,761 first preference votes, who will continue the proud family tradition in the area.
The battle is on for the third seat in Milford, where Ian McGarvey (IND), Maria Doherty (SF), Noel McBride (FG) and Eimer Friel (FG) are all in contention.
First Preference Vote Count for Milford:
Liam Blaney: 1761
Maria Doherty: 752
Eimer Friel: 725
Dermot Hardy: 338
Noel McBride: 748
Ian McGarvey: 805
Charlie McGinley: 63
Declan Meehan: 677
John O’ Donnell: 1959