Parties enlist legal advisers

The last remaining local election count was going on in Portlaoise, Co Laois, last night.

Both Fine Gael and Labour have enlisted the services of legal advisers.

The protracted recount for the seven-seater Borris-in-Ossory electoral area saw two candidates, Mr John Bonham (Fine Gael) and Mr Larry Kavanagh (Labour), tied on 794 votes on the eighth count.

This prompted the returning officer, Mr Louis Brennan, to order a second recount.

This was advancing at a slow pace, with every vote being scrutinised by the two opposing candidates and their agents.