Cllr John Campbell, right, switched sides
BREAKING NEWS: DONEGAL County Council has passed its budget.
Cllr John Campbell, independent, switched his vote – and Fianna Fail councillor Rena Donaghey wasn’t in the chamber.
That left the votes tied at 14 each.
Mayor Ian McGarvey had the casting vote – he could vote twice – and that gave the budget the passing vote it needed.
No-one has as yet explained where Cllr Donaghey was for the vote.
Sinn Fein councillor Jack Murray described the dramatic twist in events as “absolutely ridiculous.”
There have been some dramatic scenes all day in the council with rows over adjournments – and even whether the councillors should have tea.
Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein had wanted the budget to go unpassed in protest at cutbacks.
Fine Gael, Labour and independent councillors cheered the result.
It was a dramatic late twist to a bizarre day in the council.