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Dan Kiely was a long-serving Fianna Fáil senator in the 1980s and 1990s Photocall Ireland

This man's Supreme Court win could have big consequences for future elections

The Supreme Court has ordered a total recount of local election votes in the Listowel area.

THE SUPREME COURT has ordered a total recount of local election votes cast in the Listowel electoral area last year.

The court today unanimously upheld a claim by former Fianna Fáil senator Dan Kiely that there was a mistake in the conduct of the election in the north Kerry electoral ward, which means it was unlawful.

Kiely, who ran as an independent, narrowly lost out on one of the seven Listowel seats on Kerry County Council in last year’s local elections.

The case centred on whether or not a ballot paper with a sequence of preferences that do not begin with ’1′ is valid.

Voters were casting their preferences on two separate ballot papers – for the local and European elections – in May 2014.

Some voters put their first and second preferences on one paper and their following third, fourth and fifth preferences on the second paper. Election guidelines for returning officers stated that such ballot papers could be accepted as valid.

But Kiely argued in his case that if there was no mark on the ballot papers, indicating a voter’s first preference, then the papers should be excluded.

The Supreme Court found unanimously in his favour with four of the five judges in the case ordering that a recount take place.

In his judgement, which the majority court agreed with, Justice Frank Clarke said the votes should be counted afresh and that this should include a re-examination of the validity of all ballots and re-mixing of ballot papers.

The decision is likely to have implications for future elections where voters are presented with two ballot papers. No date has yet been set for the Listowel recount.

WATCH: Huge Dáil shouting match on TDs’ last day before Christmas

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jun 25th 2019, 1:31 PM

    I suggest that the recipients of such creatures be tightly parcel-wrapped and dispatched by post to the senders.

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    Mute Arya
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    Jun 25th 2019, 1:54 PM

    @Michael Kavanagh: hahahahhahahah. Gosh! you have such an imagination. Thank you for making me laugh so loud.

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    Mute M
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:16 PM

    @Arya: it’s not that funny. I’m funnier.

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    Mute Rob
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    Jun 25th 2019, 1:50 PM

    A license should be a requirement for owning any pet.

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    Mute M
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:18 PM

    @Rob: don’t be daft.

    Goldfish? Hamster?

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    Mute Rachel O' Meara
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    Jun 25th 2019, 2:31 PM

    Another reptile owner bashing article, they normally post one or two a year this year they seem to be constantly posting about the people that give the rest of us a bad name and portraying it as the norm. It’s not normal for someone to mistreat ANY animal, those who do should feel the full weight of the law. Reptiles are awesome and make great pets If you know how to take care of them, otherwise it’s just like buying a puppy and putting it in the back garden and leaving it there all day without walks, attention or even basic care.

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:09 PM

    @Rachel O’ Meara: Just trying to picture strolling around my garden with a salamander or a toad on a lead.

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    Mute M
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:17 PM

    @Rachel O’ Meara: true. A lot of understandable ignorance.

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    Mute Danny O' Mahony
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    Jun 25th 2019, 1:19 PM

    They should be frogmarched back to Rosslare

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    Mute Sirius
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    Jun 25th 2019, 9:17 PM

    People seem to equate these exotic pets with cats and dogs – sure cats and dogs used to be wild but we domesticated them – that happened over thousands of years, with animals that were already comfortable with humans in the human world. It doesn’t matter if Justin Bieber has one and you’ve watched 100 YouTube videos, leave wild animals in the wild.

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Jun 25th 2019, 2:08 PM

    Can’t wait til the end of the world. Hope it’s soon.

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    Mute Sirius
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    Jun 25th 2019, 9:13 PM

    What tf is wrong with people?!

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    Mute Tommy the postman
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    Jun 25th 2019, 7:19 PM

    Reptiles r grand look at the ones we send over to Spain n mammy says my little Johnny would never do that

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:05 PM

    I toad ‘em we really don’t need any Mo Salamander stories during the off season but would they listen…

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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jun 25th 2019, 6:06 PM

    Ask the Aussies about their headaches with toads.
    Euthanize immediately .

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    Mute Leo Lalor
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    Jun 25th 2019, 3:01 PM

    Ireland of the welcomes.this is what open borders encourage. .

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    Mute Frank Discussion
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    Jun 25th 2019, 2:24 PM

    Bufo alvarius

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