THE FIRST two candidates have been eliminated following the third count in the Donegal Constituency.
Just after midday, Independent candidates Arthur McGuinness and Niall McConnell were excluded following the distribution of Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s surplus.
No candidate has reached the 12,909 quota and the race is on to fill the fine three seats.
There are just 893 votes separating Charlie McConalogue (FF), Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF), Thomas Pringle (Ind) and Joe McHugh (FG).
Pringle, as he had done last night from the transfer of Pearse Doherty’s surplus, was the big beneficiary from Mac Lochlainn’s distribution, taking an increase of 251.
The fourth count will see the distribution of the votes of McGuinness and McConnell 941.
Third count – Distribution of Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s surplus
Charlie McConalogue +151 9,022
Pat The Cope Gallagher +27 8,688
Thomas Pringle +251 8,521
Joe McHugh +36 8,129
John O’Donnell +160 5,780
Martin Harley +11 3,502
Mary T Sweeney +80 2,907
Michael White +81 2,194
Peter Casey +146 1,950
Niall McConnell +29 832
Arthur McGuinness +10 109
