Stunning result for Sinn Fein in South Down

Stunning result for Sinn Fein in South Down

3 March 2017

SINN Fein recorded a stunning achievement in South Down with both candidates elected on the first count.

Incredibly newcomer Sinead Ennis topped the poll with 10,256 votes, almost 3,000 over the quota, to take the seat previously held by Caitriona Ruane.

Her running mate,the high profile Chris Hazzard, also secured election on the first count with 8,827 votes as the party's vote increased by 7.54%.

It is a momentous moment for Sinn Fein as it raced past the SDLP to become the largest party in South Down. Last May Sinn Fein was 150 votes behind the SDLP but today republicans stand 6,650 votes ahead of their nationalist competitors.

The SDLP vote slumped by 6.27%, it's worst ever performance in South Down. In the last two elections the SDLP vote has ped by a combined 10.5%.

Outgoing MLA, Sinead Bradley, whose father PJ Bradley was buried this morning, secured 7,323 votes and the party's other sitting MLA, Colin McGrath, secured 5,110 votes.

The DUP’s sitting MLA Jim Wells will be elected later on today having recorded over 7,700 votes, increasing his party’s share of the vote by over 3%.

There is a huge success story in Patrick Brown, of Alliance, who has more than doubled his vote in less than a year. He secured 4,535 votes, 9.1% of the total, and is in the race for the final seat with McGrath.

Harold McKee, the outgoing UUP Assemblyman, is almost certain to lose his seat, despite increasing his vote by over 690.

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