Tralee Circuit Court orders Listowel election recount

Judge Thomas E O’Donnell made legal history by ordering a recount “afresh” for the first time in the Irish courts.

It follows a protracted legal challenge by failed Independent council candidate Dan Kiely over the outcome of the 2014 elections.

In December, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld his claim that a mistake in conducting the election had rendered it unlawful, paving the way for the recount order.

However, Judge O’Donnell refused a bid from Mr Kiely’s counsel to prevent Kerry County Council from appointing the returning officer for the recount.

He told the court he wanted to ensure the count was carried out in the “normal fashion” without undue interference from the judiciary.

The council will publish a notice a week in advance of conducting the recount.