Election Latest: Charles Ward makes major gain in twelfth count

8:20PM: 100% Redress candidate Charles Ward has gained a significant jump in the twelfth count in Donegal, putting him out in front of Minister Charlie McConalogue.

Cheers rang out from Ward’s party on the distribution of eliminated Aontú candidate Mary T Sweeney’s votes, which gave Ward a 1,318 jump.

The defective block campaigner now has the third highest votes at 9,784.

McConalogue (FF) sits at 8,771 votes.

His running mate Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher continues his steady stride to the 3rd seat in Donegal. Now with 11,294 votes, he’s nearing the 12,771 quota.

Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney did consult with the Donegal Returning Officer to discuss the eleventh count result, however, after a brief discussion, during which time Mrs Sweeney is understood to have contacted Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín, the distribution continued as normal.