Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey has been elected as the new MP for West Belfast.
Mr. Maskey, who celebrated his 44th birthday on the day of the poll, took 70.6 percent of the vote with the turn-out substantially down from last year's Westminster election at 37.53 percent.
The election was called after former MP, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, stood down earlier this year to fight the Louth seat in the Republic's general election, where he topped the poll.
On Thursday, Maskey topped the poll with 16,211 votes, over 13,000 votes ahead of his nearest challenger, Alex Attwood of the SDLP on 3,088, with Gerry Carroll of People Before Profit on 1,751.
Brian Kingston of the DUP took 1,393 votes, Bill Manwaring of the UUP 386 and Aaron McIntyre of the Alliance Party 122.
The low turn-out has been put down to three factors: under Gerry Adams West Belfast became the safest seat in the North; voters had cast their votes on the Assembly and Council elections just four weeks ago; and with unionists unlikely to win the seat, only 20 percent of people on the Shankill Road bothered to vote.
A jubilant Mr. Maskey said he was not concerned by the turnout.
"I am delighted to be elected by the people, they have endorsed Sinn Féin yet again for their Westminster seat," he said.
Accompanied by wife Patricia and his brother, fellow Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey, the new MP, who will take his seat in Westminster in accordance with Sinn Féin party policy, paid tribute to his predecessor as he vowed to work to improve the lives of people in the constituency.
"This part of the city is moving forward and I will endeavor to be part of that and work tirelessly to do what I can for the people of West Belfast," he said.
"I take on the proud and strong legacy of Sinn Féin party president Gerry Adams and look forward now to the challenges in front of me."
Mr. Adams was on hand to congratulate his successor.
"It's Paul Maskey's night," Adams said. "Once again Sinn Féin in West Belfast has delivered, and we delivered big time."
