From the rules:
"Also, any character removed during his or her skirmish is a losing character, even if that character's side eventually wins."
Merry was removed from the skirmish, so he still lost, and therefore DTTLC should add a token.
I'm not entirely sure about this interpretation, as LotR has no "last known info" concept to validate, that indeed it was ally/companion that lost.
Consider following example:
Alatar Deceived is in play, and was animated. It is a Minion now, in addition to being a Condition. During its skirmish (as the only minion in it), it was discarded (for example using an FP Event). If there is a card that says: "If a
![Isengard [Isengard]](https://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/Smileys/classic/isengard.png)
minion loses a skirmish do X" Will it trigger? At the time, when the skirmish finishes (and the trigger is checked), it is no longer a minion.
Anyway, after restart:
- FP characters that were removed from skirmish, now also count as losing a skirmish involving the opposing minions.