Stormont has a new elected Assembly after vote counts are completed
By Anthony Neeson
With counting underway in Northern Ireland’s Stormont election, early indications are that there will be few changes in the make-up of the new Assembly.
With 108 seats up for grabs, early tallies show that the DUP will again be returned as the largest party with Sinn Féin coming in close behind.
In the West Belfast constituency, where parties are vying for six seats, Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit romped home with over 8,000 votes topping the poll with Sinn Féin in line to take four seats.
The SDLP are fighting to hold on to their only seat in the most nationalist constituency in the North.
In Mid-Ulster, Sinn Féin exceeded the quota on the first count along with the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone, the two parties taking four of the six seats between them.
In Upper Bann it looks at time of writing that former SDLP deputy leader Dolores Kelly, could lose her seat.
The party is under pressure from Sinn Féin who are in line to take two seats in that constituency.
The SDLP are also under pressure in South Belfast, with the Green Party hoping to make a breakthrough in the mainly affluent constituency.
Sinn Féin’s Máirtín Ó Muilleoir topped the poll in South Belfast, coming in just under the quota and will be elected on the second count.
All eyes are also on Foyle where the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood goes head-to-head with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (SF) in their home city of Derry.
It is expected that Sinn Féin and the SDLP will take two seats apiece, with the DUP also taking a seat.
However, a shock also looks on the cards with veteran socialist and journalist, Eamonn McCann, in line to win a seat for People Before Profit.
Overall, the count is slightly down on 2011 with the voter turnout somewhere in the fifties percentage area.
Counting will continue today with the final results known by tomorrow afternoon.
