BREAKING: Drama at Local Elections Count Centre as count boxes knocked over

Drama has unfolded at the Count Centre here in Thurles as hundreds of ballot papers spilled out onto the floor when count boxes were knocked over in the process of the first count. 

The boxes could be heard crashing to the floor throughout the hall and count staff quickly scrambled to reassemble the mess.

An hour into counting, the process at the Clonmel LEA station will have to begin again, setting work back for counters at this station.