Ousted Fine Gael candidate Johnny McGuinness has said he has not ruled out taking legal action after lodging an official complaint over the manner of his elimination from the Carnodnagh LEA contest.
McGuinness, the son of the late Bernard McGuinness, lost out on a battle for the last seat with the Labour Party’s Martin Farren.
The loss means that Fine Gael will be without a candidate in Inishowen for the first time in living memory.
Mr McGuinness confirmed to Donegal Daily that he had lodged an official complaint with Chief Returning Officer Paul McGill.
His issue centres around the procedure of using a statute of the Electoral Act to eliminate two candidates at one point.
He stressed that he has no issue with the staff at the centre of the statute being used.
However, he queried why it not had been used earlier at the count at the Carndonagh Community School venue.
He also confirmed he had been offered a recount by the staff at the centre.
He said “I’ve no problem with the statute being used but it has to be consistent and it has to be used at every opportunity.
“They didn’t use it earlier but chose to use it in the home straight when there were two seats still available.”
Mr McGuinness added that the count had been proceeded with even though his team had complained about the manner in which it was progressing.
Mr McGuinness said he had been contacted today by a number of political colleagues who said they could not believe the process used in the Carndonagh count.
He said he had put a huge amount into his campaign saying a lot of people had helped him with his dream of returning his father’s seat.
Asked how far he was prepared to take the matter, he said he could not “rule out” taking a legal challenge to the result.
He said “I wouldn’t rule out anything. All I am doing is seeking fair treatment to compete for the last remaining seat. Why should I be treated any differently than any other candidate.”
