Dooley seat in danger?

Fianna Fail’s sitting TD in Clare deputy Timmy Dooley could struggle to retain his seat. His running mate Dr John Hillery was excluded on the ninth count and the redistribution of his votes will now decide who is next eliminated.

Deputy Dooley currently has 7,071 votes, less than independent James Breen who is on 7,678 and Fine Gael’s Tony Mulcahy who has 7,228.

James Breen is a former Fianna Fail County Councillor and could benefit from some of Dr Hillery’s transfers.

Deputy Dooley needs in excess of just over 4,500 votes to make the quota. If he does not get sufficient transfers from running mate Dr Hillery his seat could be in danger.

Deputy Dooley is likely to garner a significant number of transfers from Dr Hillery which would put him ahead of Fine Gael candidate Councillor Tony Mulcahy. However if Councillor Mulcahy is eliminated on the 10th count, Breen is likely to get more of his transfers than Dooley. This would mean Breen would take the fourth seat.