After a day of recounting, there will be a SECOND recount in the Letterkenny LEA

A second recount of the Letterkenny LEA is due to start at 6pm, following a request from Kevin Bradley.

An initial recount was called at 1:30am to start at 10am on Monday and seven and a half hours later, during the 12th count, Bradley requested a second recount having been eliminated. 

Today's recount, requested by Mary T Sweeney, saw her move from five votes behind Bradley last night to five in front. The amended figures took Bradley to 1,008 and Sweeney to 1,013, with the quota at 1,629.

"The result has been amended to account for errors discovered during the reexamination of ballot papers across all accounts earlier today," Seamus Canning, the returning officer, said at 5:20pm Monday. "A candidate has requested a full reexamination of the ballot papers and I have acceded to this request and the full reexamination will begin at 6pm."

Earlier on Sunday, Donal Mandy Kelly had surpassed the quota on the first count at 6:40pm but was not joined by those who grabbed the second and third seats till the ninth count - Sinn Féin’s Gerry McMonagle and Tomás Seán Devine of the 100% Redress Party got over the line just after midnight.

In a seven-seater, both Sweeney and Bradley are eighth and ninth respectively, behind the elected Kelly, McMonagle and Devine, while Ciaran Brogan on 1,621, Jimmy Kavanagh with 1,525, Michael McBride 1,388 and Donal Coyle's 1,116 currently the best placed to take the other four seats.

However, whoever comes out on top between Sweeney and Bradley would hope to benefit from the transfers of the other to put pressure on, more than likely from the present figures, Coyle. 

"The result has been amended to account for errors discovered after the reexamination of ballot papers earlier today.

The scene at the Aura Centre where the Letterkenny LEA recount began at 10am this morning, Monday.

The first count has yet to be announced. The decision to grant the recount was decided in the early hours.

It looked as though they would be followed by the final four seats of the seven-seater by Ciaran Brogan, who had made his way to 1,621; Jimmy Kavanagh was on 1,523, Michael McBride at 1,387 and Donal Coyle with 1,116 following the 11th count.

There were only five votes between Kevin Bradley and Mary T Sweeney - 1,015 to 1,010 respectively - although they were looking like fighting it out for eighth place. 

"I received a request for a recount which I intend to accede to," Seamus Canning, the returning officer, said at 1:30am. "So I propose to adjourn now to reconvene 10am Monday morning."