Sinn Féin has defended the decision to call a recount in the Ireland South European elections - claiming a price cannot be put on democracy.

A full recount has been called in Ireland South which is expected to leave the constituency without representation in Europe until mid-July.

More than 25,000 of the spoiled votes in the Ireland South ballot were left entirely blank.

A first round result in the Ireland South elections is not expected until at least midnight with the lengthy ballot papers causing significant delays.

A young woman with mental health and addiction issues, evicted from a flat after losing her rent allowance, was found dead in a tent in Cork City after taking a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs.

Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, has described as “extraordinary” the calls from Gerry Adams for witness protection schemes for jurors to replace the Special Criminal Court.

A former Fianna Fáil politician who lost out on a seat by two votes in the recent local elections yesterday began his civil action to have the result in the Listowel area of Co Kerry declared invalid.

An inquest has found a West Cork farmer and his daughter both died from drowning after he entered the sea with her, with the verdict delivered yesterday amid highly charged scenes in Bantry.

The first female sheriff in Ireland tells Dan Buckley she opposes positive discrimination

A little Cork boy who lost his right arm in a horrific lawnmower accident was yesterday awarded €1.5m in compensation.

A man attacked with a hammer for selling Bisto instead of heroin settled a compensation claim without reference to lawyers, the High Court sitting in Cork heard yesterday.

Two Cork sisters, who were sexually abused for years from the age of nine by their mother’s partner, were each awarded €500,000 against their abuser at the High Court sitting in Dublin.

THE daughter of Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae was given a lucrative position on a state board just weeks before her father agreed to support the Government in the budget vote.

CONSIDERING the amount of sticking plaster holding its 188 seats together it is, perhaps, no great surprise that Cork’s Kino cinema is to close.

TOIRÉASA FERRIS was gracious in defeat after the surprise decision of her campaign team not to contest her elimination when she was just less than 700 votes behind Kathy Sinnott.

JUST after 6.30pm, the hush descended, as respectful a silence as ever gifted to Ronan O’Gara on any occasion he steps up to the ball. Except this time it was Martin Harvey, Cork city sheriff, stepping up to the microphone to finally announce the first count results.

THE runners and riders for the race to be a member of the 30th Dáil have been finalised.

A FATHER whose only son was gunned down said yesterday the system has failed to give him justice.