Coppinger eliminated after protracted recount

Socialist Party candidate Ruth Coppinger has been eliminated from the Dublin West by-election this morning.

The left-wing party requested a recount after its candidate was just 16 votes short of Fianna Fáil candidate David McGuinness in the fourthcount.

A four-hour rechecking of votes left both Ms Coppinger and Mr McGuinness with 9,873 votes each.

Returning officer John Fitzpatrick then eliminated Ms Coppinger under Section 122 of the Electoral Act, as Mr McGuinness had secured the higher number of first-preference votes.

Patrick Nulty remains favourite to take the seat tomorrow morning however. The Labour candidate is on 13,027 votes, and will expect a favourite transfer of votes from the Socialist Party candidate going into the fifth count tomorrow morning.