Losing candidate bids to overturn ballot result

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.

Dan Kiely, aged 71, said he had not been notified about the examination of spoiled votes in the Listowel area, in which he was an independent candidate, and claimed that a recount, which he was granted, should also have re-examined the spoiled votes.

Returning officer Michael McMahon refused to have the spoiled votes re-examined during the recount, and Elizabeth Murphy, counsel for Mr Kiely, claimed at Tralee Circuit Court that he had been granted only a partial recount.