Updated 8.45pm
BUSINESSMAN SEÁN GALLAGHER says he has received the unanimous support of Roscommon County Council in his quest to be an independent candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
Gallagher was earlier said to be “delighted” to receive support from Clare County Council and Donegal County Council.
A campaign spokesperson has told TheJournal that he won the support of the majority of Independent candidates and the Fianna Fáil group in the vote in Clare this afternoon, while the Fine Gael group and a small number of Independents voted against him. Gallagher won the council’s backing by just one vote.
Meanwhile the vote by Donegal County Council this afternoon was not a formal nomination, though the Gallagher campaign sees this as a “clear statement of support” and hopes to receive the council’s formal backing in the autumn.
Gallagher tweeted his pleasure with the outcome.
A source indicated to TheJournal.ie that the support was not “set in stone.”
It is understood a motion to support Gallagher was backed by the Fianna Fáil members of the council. In total there were 13 votes for Gallagher, one for fellow independent Mary Davis and 12 abstentions.
Last week, Gallagher received the backing of Longford County Council although this was not a formal nomination as was later clarified and the council was reported to be seeking legal advice on the matter.
Longford County C0uncil declined to comment when contacted this afternoon about the matter.
In the meantime Gallagher’s campaign considers today’s backing from Donegal County Council as a clear statement of intent and a spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that it was “especially gratifying to have the support of the council in his father’s home county.”
- Additional reporting by Emer Mc Lysaght
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