Fianna Fáil edged closer to an overall majority this evening as its outgoing Cork South Central TD Mr John Dennehy held his seat following a second recount.
The outcome will not be challenged by independent candidate Ms Kathy Sinnott who said after the result she would not rule out running for election again in the future.
Following a two-day recount in which all disputed ballots were scrutinised by legal counsel for both sides, Mr Dennehy had 8,789 votes compared with 8,783 for Ms Sinnott. The quota for the constituency was revised to 9,207 votes.
Mr Dennehy confessed to being very relieved following the result. "It has been grueling, genuinely grueling. We have had highs and lows during it." He added that when the Dail was recalled he would do his utmost to address the agenda of needs for disabled people which Ms Sinnott was championing.
Fianna Fáil now has 81 TDs which is just two short of a majority. The party believes it could command up to 86 Dail votes due to the strong Fianna Fáil connections of a number of independents.
Last weekend the fifth and final Cork South Central seat had been awarded to Ms Sinnott by a margin of two votes. This prompted Mr Dennehy to seek a recount which awarded the seat to him by a margin of three votes.
Ms Sinnott then called for a second recount which was vigorously scrutinised by officials from both sides.
