This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8667134.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Third recount under way in Omagh | Third recount under way in Omagh |
(21 minutes later) | |
A third recount is under way in Fermanagh/South Tyrone. | A third recount is under way in Fermanagh/South Tyrone. |
The count was suspended at 0430 BST after two recounts in which Michelle Gildernew and Rodney Connor were neck and neck. | The count was suspended at 0430 BST after two recounts in which Michelle Gildernew and Rodney Connor were neck and neck. |
After the second recount, Mrs Gildernew, Sinn Fein, was just two votes ahead of independent unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor. | After the second recount, Mrs Gildernew, Sinn Fein, was just two votes ahead of independent unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor. |
She had 21,300 votes to Mr Connor's 21,298. | She had 21,300 votes to Mr Connor's 21,298. |
Sources have claimed 36 more ballot papers were counted in Fermanagh South Tyrone than were recorded as having been issued by the Electoral Office. | |
In addition, it is understood a handful of what have been described as suspect papers have been identified. | |
There has been no adjudication yet on these ballot papers. | |
The atmosphere at the count is described as very tense and delicate. | |
When Mrs Gildernew won the seat by a majority of 53 in 2001 the result had to be upheld in the High Court. | When Mrs Gildernew won the seat by a majority of 53 in 2001 the result had to be upheld in the High Court. |
After leaving the count station in the early hours of Friday she said she was "confident that we're going to come out in the right side of this". | After leaving the count station in the early hours of Friday she said she was "confident that we're going to come out in the right side of this". |
She added: "We always knew that it was going to be right down to the wire, so we'll see what the morning brings." | She added: "We always knew that it was going to be right down to the wire, so we'll see what the morning brings." |
Mr Connor, a former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, was standing as an independent after the DUP and Ulster Conservatives and Unionists (UCU) agreed to run a joint unionist candidate. | Mr Connor, a former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, was standing as an independent after the DUP and Ulster Conservatives and Unionists (UCU) agreed to run a joint unionist candidate. |
He said: "We must be at Westminster and I will be fighting as hard as I can and I will be watching the rest of the count and hopefully I will be able to be the voice of the people of Fermanagh South Tyrone at Westminster." | He said: "We must be at Westminster and I will be fighting as hard as I can and I will be watching the rest of the count and hopefully I will be able to be the voice of the people of Fermanagh South Tyrone at Westminster." |