Mr Holohan contested June’s local election in two constituencies – Tallaght South and Tallaght Central – winning seats in both. He has chosen to serve in Tallaght South.
Last night, Dean Donnelly, a MMA coach from Tallaght, was co-opted on to South Dublin County Council after being nominated by Cllr Holohan.
A former councillor, Solidarity’s Kieran Mahon, believes the situation is “highly undemocratic” and the seat should have gone to the person excluded last in the constituency’s election count instead.
Mr Mahon was excluded in seventh place in the six-seater constituency after the elections in June.
“Paddy Holohan stood in two areas, I don’t know his motivations for that. But the legislation says a person can stand in two areas, but when it comes to being elected, there are restrictions,” Mr Mahon told the Irish Independent.
“Paddy chose to represent Tallaght South and is now deemed to not be elected in Tallaght Central.
“Being someone who stood in two elections, we think there’s a very strong demographic argument that the place should go to the person next on the ballot paper rather than supporting the nominee of a person who stood in two areas and then tries to plant somebody into an elected position.”
People Before Profit (PBP) councillors had urged Mr Holohan to co-opt Mr Mahon, who came seventh in the six-seat constituency of Tallaght Central.
“This is something that can be abused by people with money, financial resources, celebrity status where they can essentially stand in multiple areas and then place people to elected positions. It’s highly undemocratic,” Mr Mahon added.
“This could set a precedent that someone could stand in multiple areas and hoping they could supplant people into positions, I think it’s undemocratic.
“As the next place candidate, our nomination, which is me, represents someone who put their name down on the ballot paper.”
Mr Mahon said he fully supports the need for the people of Tallaght to have full representation on South Dublin County Council.
Following last night’s vote to co-opt Mr Donnelly, Mr Mahon said serving the local area had been a “huge honour”.
“For me, the last ten years while serving as an elected councillor in Tallaght Central has been a huge honour, characterised by huge solidarity within our community on all the major social, legal, industrial and economic campaigns we’ve been part of together,” he said.
“It’s left an indelible mark on how I will continue to approach politics and in the belief that working class people like ourselves can build the political organisation needed to win a better, fairer society, using each and every platform open to us be that councils, the Dáil or grass roots organisation.
“Today, if anything, reaffirms that need and I’m glad to remain part of that battle,” he added.
The Irish Independent has contacted Paddy Holohan and South Dublin County Council for further comment.
