Recheck complete in Birr after 55 votes 'misplaced'
Returning officer says sixth count now continues
THE progress of the count in the Birr Electoral Area has been slowed down considerably by a discrepancy which was discovered last night.
After five counts, and with just two councillors elected, Peter Ormond and John Leahy, one of the Independents, Michael Deegan was eliminated having reached 426 votes.
The sixth count involves the distribution of those 426 among the remaining candidates and all the contenders, especially Fine Gael's John Clendennen, who is just five votes off the quota, were looking forward to an announcement.
However, returning officer Monica Cleary said last night (Sunday) that a misplaced package had been found and the count was being adjourned to Monday morning.
Ms Cleary explained just now: “Following the sorting process it was found that there was 481 in the package. At that stage we adjourned for the night.”
A recheck of Michael Deegan's votes took place this morning covering all five previous counts. Ms Cleary said: “We identified two packages that inadvertently had been misplaced, mistakenly placed, in his holding box.”
One of those packages was from the distribution of John Leahy's surplus, and it accounted for 50 votes. Then another five were found which were from the previously eliminated Ekaterina Koneva (Green Party) – making 55 in all – the difference between 426 and 481.
She reassured those listening that the “randomness of the count has been maintained and added that they checked all the candidates' holding boxes “and we found no other misplaced packages”.
“I am now going to proceed to place the two misplaced packages in their correct place. They do not interfere with any other aspect of the count at this time.”
John Clendennen is certain of re-election and his party colleague Hugh Egan is well placed. Still, the destination of the remaining seats is highly uncertain, with Audrey Hennessy Kennedy, Barbara Daly (both Fianna Fail), Sean Maher (Sinn Fein) and sitting Social Democrat Clare Claffey all hoping to stay in the race.