James Bannon bows out but mulls legal option due to ‘miniscule margin’

It was an emotional end to a colourful political career for James Bannon.

The out-going Fine Gael TD said it was “shocking” that Longford residents are now left without a representative from their county in Dáil Éireann.

Mr Bannon lost out after a painstaking recount — which finished up at 5.30am yesterday — put him just six votes behind Labour’s Willie Penrose.