The last candidate elected in the local authority elections was officially declared last night in Portlaoise following a marathon five-day count.

Mr John Bonham of Fine Gael and Mr Larry Kavanagh of Labour, standing in the Borris-in-Ossory county council electoral area, had tied with 794 votes each.

The votes were recounted on a number of occasions over the past five days under the scrutiny of legal representatives from both parties. Shortly before 8 p.m. last night, the returning officer declared that both men had polled 795 votes each, but as Mr Bonham had received more first preference votes he was deemed elected. Mr Bonham had received 648 first preference votes, while Mr Kavanagh had received 602.

His victory over Mr Kavanagh means that the Labour Party has no representative on any of the local authority bodies in Co Laois.