Recount underway in Birr Electoral Area after close result after 12th count

The recount for the Birr Electoral Area in underway in the Offaly Election Centre in Mucklagh.

The Returning Officer has announced that it will begin with a reexamination of the ballot papers of Peter Ormond, Clare Claffey and Sean Maher.

The recount had been requested by Claffey's party, the Social Democrats, when she finished 27 votes behind Sinn Fein's Maher at the end of the 12th count last night.

As it stood then Maher and Fianna Fail's Audrey Hennessy Kennedy were elected.

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