GALWAY EAST – MCHUGH WINS IN RECOUNT, BRODERICK ELIMINATED

Date Published: 27-Feb-2011

BY DECLAN TIERNEY

The result of the recount in Galway East has been completed and it has ended in Fine Gael’s Tom McHugh surviving and Independent Timmy Broderick being eliminated . . . by a margin of just six votes.

After the seventh count, Tom McHugh had two votes less than Broderick and the Tuam Fine Gael candidate ordered a recount.

It took more than 10 hours for the recount to be completed as a number of discrepancies with votes were detected by the counting staff.

It meant that McHugh gained two votes in the recount while Broderick lost six votes. There were rumours that Broderick was going to seek a recount but he flatly denied this as he said that his chances of winning a seat were minimal.

Now Tom McHugh lies 265 votes behind his Tuam rival Labour’s Colm Keaveney in a straight battle for the fourth seat with seats already earmarked for Paul Connaughton jnr and Ciaran Cannon of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail’s Micheal Kitt.

McHugh is hoping to make up the difference between himself and Keaveney when Broderick’s votes are distributed.

It makes for an intriguing battle with the odds still favouring Keaveney to take the seat. There is some suggestion that Keaveney has around 1,400 transfers from Broderick but that is yet to be confirmed.

But it must be remembered that amongst Broderick’s votes is almost 800 transfers from Fine Gael’s Jimmy McClearn and another 730 transfers from Sean Canney which will certainly boost McHugh’s chances.

It is still all to play for and a count is not expected until around 10 p.m.