Archive News
GALWAY EAST – THE LONG WAIT CONTINUES
Date Published: 27-Feb-2011
BY DECLAN TIERNEY
More than nine hours after the recounting of votes began in Galway East there is still no white smoke.
Even if a result is made known, there is still the possibility of legal challenges being made to the result.
Fine Gael’s Tom McHugh ended up two votes behind Independent Timmy Broderick after the seventh count and he ordered a recount to prevent his elimination.
Since 9 a.m. the count staff had done a recheck on the papers and one candidate, Tom McHugh claimed that there were around 108 discrepancies discovered.
There is some speculation that McHugh has gained a lead on Broderick by something in the region of four votes but that has not been confirmed.
Those attending the count are expressing frustration over the length of time involved in the recount.
But the count staff have gone through the votes methodically to ensure that there cannot be a challenge to the eventual result.
It is still not clear when the result of the recount will be made known.