Written 2 years ago by Newsroom

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A second recount of ballots in Longford-Westmeath will start this morning with outgoing TDs Willie Penrose and James Bannon fighting for their political lives.

Following the election of the Independent Alliance’s Kevin Boxer Moran, Labour’s Penrose was just 19 votes behind Fine Gael’s Bannon but had his request for a recount turned down.

As Moran’s surplus was divided up however, the tide turned and Penrose edged in front before the returning officer Imelda Brannigan agreed to Bannon’s recount request.

Fianna Fail’s Robert Troy was elected on Saturday while Fine Gael’s Peter Burke is still in a strong position to take the third of four seats.

Returning officer Imelda Brannigan announced the latest recount in the early hours of this morning.

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, who was joined in Keenagh last night by Shane Ross, also of the Independent Alliance, says they’re ready to negotiate with the two largest parties after they put together a programme of their own: