Catherine Martin in fight for final seat – The Irish Times

Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond topped the poll in Dublin Rathdown and was elected in the first count, but the final seats are up for grabs. Richmond’s running mate Maeve O’Connell is also in the running to take her seat, with Fianna Fáil’s Shay Brennan also well placed. The fight for last place looks set to be tight between Social Democrat Sinéad Gibney and outgoing Culture Minister Catherine Martin, who is looking to salvage something from a dark weekend for the Greens.

Fianna Fáil councilor Shay Brennan’s team has called for a fresh check after counting a significantly higher number of transfers than the 102 it initially received from Aontú candidate Liam Coughlan.

Ms Gibney’s team, meanwhile, described the 430 transfers initially received from the Aontú candidate as “bizarre” due to the differences between the two parties.

Mr Brennan received 402 transfers, following the re-verification.

There have been differences between the other candidates regarding the latest transfers, although they are minor in comparison and changed.

Fine Gael councilor Maeve O’Connell remains in the lead with 7,615 votes, followed by Mr Brennan (7,601).

Independent councilor Michael Fleming received the highest number of transfers from Mr Coughlan with 826, taking his vote total so far to 5,861.

Following the latest count, he overtook Ms Gibney who now stands at 5,214, followed by Green Party minister Catherine Martin (4,560) and Sinn Féin’s Shaun Tracey (4,223).

Labor councilor Lettie McCarthy was eliminated following the seventh count, finishing with 3,478 votes.

After this recheck, the results were amended and the eighth count began with six candidates still in the race for the three remaining seats.

Labour’s Lettie McCarthy was the last candidate eliminated. She was eliminated following the seventh count.

Some 833 transfers from Aontú candidate Liam Coughlan brought independent councilor Michael Fleming ahead of Social Democrats candidate Sinéad Gibney by 358 votes.

Fine Gael councilor Maeve O’Connell remains in the lead, followed by Fianna Fáil councilor Shay Brennan, with 309 votes between them.

Catherine Martin is currently second to last with 4,560 votes against a quotient of 9,752, followed by Sinn Féin’s Shaun Tracey (4,223).

Ms McCarthy’s 3,480 votes will now be split, with six candidates remaining in the race for the remaining three seats.

Some 296 transfers were mistakenly distributed to Social Democrat candidate Sinéad Gibney in the seventh count for Dublin Rathdown.