Carol Nolan maintains her advantage for fifth seat in Laois-Offaly after Stanley transfers

Independent Carol Nolan – a former member of the Sinn Fein party – has strengthened her grip on the fifth seat in the Laois-Offaly constituency following the transfer of Brian Stanley’s surplus in the second count.

Nolan, who parted terms with Sinn Fein over her stance on the 8th Amendment, picked up 746 transfers from Stanley, her former party colleague to move almost 1,600 votes clear of Fine Gael’s Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy who looks set to lose the seat she won in 2011.

Corcoran-Kennedy picked up just 66 transfers on the second count.

The biggest beneficiary, however, of Stanley’s huge surplus was Stephen Tynan of People Before Profit who gained over 1,200 transfers, bringing him to from 910 first preferences to 2,128.

Tynan is Portlaoise-based and that boost has seen him overtake Fianna Fail’s Pauline Flanagan and ensure he remains in the race for that bit longer.

Fianna Fail’s Sean Fleming gained 480 votes while Barry Cowen got 212 to nudge them closer to the quota – though they too still remain quite a bit off the quota of 11,571.

It now means that returning officer Paul Featherstonhaugh moves onto the third count. Both Noel O’Rourke of Renua and John Daly of the Irish National Party will be eliminated; O’Rourke as he is the bottom-placed and Daly as he cannot overtake Pauline Flanagan even if he were to receive all of the transfers.

It also means that Pauline Flanagan will be in line to be eliminated next at which stage she will have almost 2,000 votes to transfer with many of those expected to go to her FF colleague in Laois Sean Fleming.

Noel Tuohy, as a fellow Portlaoise candidate, will also benefit.

However, that still won’t get Fleming over the line so whoever is next in line – Tynan or Tuohy will be next to go.

The state of play after the 2nd count

1. Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 16,654, ELECTED on the 1st Count
2. Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail) – 8,889 (+212)
3. Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) – 8,116 (+480)
4. Charlie Flanagan (Fine Gael) – 7,641 (+178)
5. Carol Nolan (Independent) – 6,182 (+746)
6. Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (Fine Gael) – 4,585 (+66)
7. Peter Ormond (Fianna Fail) – 4,132 (+59)
8. Pippa Hackett (Green) – 3,921 (+427)
9. John Leahy (Independent) – 3,725 (+262)
10. Ken Smollen (Democratic Party) – 3,173 (+562)
11. Noel Tuohy (Labour) – 2,596 (+585)
12. Stephen Tynan (People Before Profit) – 2,128 (+1,218)
13. Pauline Flanagan (Fianna Fail) – 1,850 (+106)
14. John Daly (Irish National Party) – 557 (+116)
15. Noel O’Rourke (Renua) – 356 (+66)

SEE ALSO – Talking Politics: Brian Stanley wins the day as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both lose ground