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Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill (left) and Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald raise the arms of Orfhlaith Begley as the newly elected Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone. PA Wire/PA Images

26-year-old newcomer wins Tyrone by-election for Sinn Féin

Begley took the seat with an almost 8,000 vote majority.

SINN FÉIN NEWCOMER Orfhlaith Begley has made history by becoming the first woman elected as West Tyrone MP.

Begley last night hung on to the seat vacated by party colleague Barry McElduff, who resigned the seat over a social media post.

Begley took the seat with an almost 8,000 vote majority, though Sinn Féin’s percentage of the vote did drop from 50% last year to 47% this year.

Speaking after her victory, she said:

“This is an historic result for Sinn Féin. The people of West Tyrone have elected their first female MP but, more than that, they have given a huge endorsement to our vision for a new type of politics and an Ireland that treats every single citizen with equality and respect.

“The electorate seized the opportunity to vote for equality and fairness and to reject borders and division and I want to thank every single person who voted for me and Sinn Féin.

“I pledge to be an MP for all citizens and to champion the issues that will improve the lives of the people in West Tyrone – attracting jobs, the completion of the A5, the rollout of broadband and defending our communities against the impact of austerity cuts and Brexit.”

DUP MLA Tom Buchanan, who finished second in the voting, said that while he respects the electorate’s decision, the area would suffer due to Sinn Féin’s abstentionist policy.

“I am extremely disappointed however that the constituency will continue to be unrepresented in Parliament. Whilst West Tyrone has an MP it does not have one who is prepared to do the full job expected of them.”

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jan 26th 2015, 1:56 PM

    Hopefully they’ll invest money in what are some of the most soulless and dated hotels in the country. They have the name of being nothing short of knocking shops. Bit of time effort and money is badly needed.

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Jan 26th 2015, 2:30 PM

    They don’t need to. They have close to full occupancy every night. They don’t try or want to be a five star.

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    Mute Matt B
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    Jan 26th 2015, 3:36 PM

    I don’t know when you last stayed in one….. They are much improved compared to 5 or 6 years ago.

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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Jan 26th 2015, 1:38 PM

    The jury is out on this deal

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    Mute Hal Pacino
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    Jan 26th 2015, 1:41 PM

    Terrible!

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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jan 26th 2015, 1:54 PM

    Here’s your coat, what’s your rush?

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:24 PM

    Maybe they will finally invest some money in staffing, as at the moment they are running nowadays ”labour camps”

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Jan 26th 2015, 9:12 PM

    And why am I getting red thumbs? Has anyone worked in those camps?

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:28 PM

    €130,000 per room? Sounds juicy. Product of ultra low interest rates I guess.

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    Mute Uncle Mort
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    Jan 26th 2015, 2:33 PM

    The original Jury’s in Dame Street was a real hotel and the bar was particularly nice, as Joni Mitchell put it
    “Don’t it always seem to go
    That you don’t know what you’ve got
    Till it’s gone

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    Mute Justin Devaney
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    Jan 26th 2015, 3:02 PM

    Is that Joan Mitchell from the liberties, Pats wife?

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