BREAKING: Fourth recount gets underway at marathon Kildare election count

A fourth recount is getting underway at the marathon election to decide who represents The Newbridge local electoral area on Kildare County Council.

At the end of the third recount early this morning Aontu's Mellisa Byrne finished a vote behind Sinn Fein runner James Stokes, apparently prompting a request by her party for another recount.

It is the decision of the retuning officer whether to grant a recount.

The count has thrown up marginally different results each time -  but none likely to affect the eventual outcome.

Both SF and Aontu are legally represented now and this raises the prospect of the issue being decided in court.

However, any party taking to issue to court would have to prove that any possible error would affect the eventual result.

As things stand, Tracey O'Dwyer (FG), Peggy O'Dwyer (FG) and Chris Pender (SD) have won seats to represent the Newbridge area. Noel Heavey and Rob Power, both FF, are almost certain to win a seat each.

This leaves the last seat between Byrne, Stokes and independent Tom McDonnell.