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SINN FÉIN IS on its way to becoming the largest party in Northern Ireland at both assembly and local Government level, as it has claimed the most seats so far in the region’s local election.
If the party’s success continues, it will be the first time a nationalist party has held the most council seats in the region.
The local elections are taking place in the midst of an ongoing deadlock at Stormont, as the DUP is refusing to re-enter the executive over its ongoing opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework.
Counting is still taking place in polling stations across the North’s 11 councils, as volunteers are readying themselves for a second long day.
So far, 292 of 462 seats have been filled.
Sinn Féin is in the lead with 122 seats (representing a gain of 24), the DUP is holding at 102 seats, and the Alliance Party is in third place with 45 seats (a gain of 8).
In fourth place the UUP has 43 seats, and in fifth place the SDLP has 28, with respective losses of 15 and 12 seats.
It is not a good day for the parties that were once at the helm, led by David Trimble and John Hume.
There have been some surprises, upsets, and close calls in the contest so far.
Ballymena, the late Ian Paisley’s hometown, has elected its first ever Sinn Féin councillor, Breanainn Lyness, and its first openly gay councillor, John Hyland of the Alliance Party.
A Sinn Féin councillor was also elected for the first time in Lisburn city.
Alliance’s Lewis Boyle, at just 18-years-old, has become Northern Ireland’s youngest ever political representative after being elected to the Antrim and Newtonabbey Council.
💬 "I think it's really important for representation across the board."
— Liam Tunney ✍️ (@ismiseliam) May 19, 2023
🟡 @allianceparty's John Hyland on the importance of having an openly gay councillor in Ballymena.
📰 @BelTel: https://t.co/5NMUl2T54M#LE23 #LE2023 pic.twitter.com/UgBdsWPVox
Sinn Féin’s successes so far have seen it become the biggest party in Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon.
Party Leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that Sinn Féin’s wins have been secured because voters have said that they “want politics to work for everyone, and that we need the institutions of Government back up and running”.
🔴 LIVE | Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald on party's 'historic' performance #LE23 pic.twitter.com/ScJXWt4101
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) May 19, 2023
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said that, while his party appears to be holding its seats after losing 8 in 2019, unionism now needs to address “splitting” its vote.
“It certainly seems Sinn Féin are polling well in many parts of Northern Ireland.
“When the unionist vote is split and splintered, it does mean unionists losing seats,” he told UTV news last night.
Donaldson added that voters could not continue to indulge in the “luxury” of splitting the unionist vote.
Live Updates: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says Unionism must address splitting.#LE23https://t.co/Wbw4KbVOgQ pic.twitter.com/GZvMOIPczE
— UTV Live News (@UTVNews) May 19, 2023
When it comes to the smaller parties, most have been squeezed.
However the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) has gained seats in two areas.
Green Party leader Mal O’ Hara has lost his seat, and People Before Profit have also lost a seat, and are due to face a number of challenging counts today.
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I am reading unconfirmed reports that three people have died and a further two people are in a serious condition, a man is in custody, awful news, what is going on ?
@Honeybee: it’s now being treated as a terrorist incident…
@Honeybee: forbury Gardens is in the centre of Reading. A beautiful spot to have your lunch break. There was a Black Lives Matter protest earlier today… I don’t think it has anything to do with what has happened. Unfortunately it’ll be the centre of attention until they find out the reason behind this. Supposedly they have got someone in custody.
@Ann Neylan: I watched the video as it happened.. Totally shocking!…. You can’t unsee things.
@Kate Flaherty: OMG, how frightening, the poor people in the park, to think this could happen to anyone on a lovely day in a public park after all people have gone through in the last few weeks, how cruel.
@Ann Neylan: Ann , this is so shocking, I am so sorry to hear this dreadful news, the poor families who will have to deal with this heartbreak.
@Honeybee: absolutely dreadful!… I’m on the fence where the police are concerned, but I have to say they were doing an amazing job before the ambulances arrived.
@Ann Neylan: hopefully all will recover. Looked pretty awful though.
@Ann Neylan: I think 3 people have died. So heartbreaking for the families involved. The video I saw was people motionless on the ground and police officers giving Cpr. All I can say is fair play to them for trying.
@Ann Neylan: I think you should remember this when it comes to police, they have their bad days but by and large they are men and women doing there best to serve the community.
@Shimmy Shammy: well said
Libyan asylum seeker, named as arrested terror incident suspect. Source ; sky news.
@Chewns: Ironic this happened on World Refugee Day.
We opened are doors to this, and they are still open.
@Braonain Proinseas: oh give over! Ignorance
Terrorist attack. The footage is horrific. Libyan arrested.
@Sylvia O’Regan: How many times can they use the mental illness excuse?
@Chewns: Basically everytime.
@Chewns: yes, it’s like the same thing when that poor Garda was shot the other day, the perpetrator had mental health issues! Still doesn’t justify murder!
@Sylvia O’Regan: Are people sharing footage? I hope you will report them and think of the grieving families before watching it or sharing it yourself.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Reading a few of your comments over the last few days I’m thinking you should join Anti-Corruption Ireland.
@Chewns: so long as they want and ppl believe it
As if people don’t have enough to deal with without these fanatics making life harder.
2 “Asians” arrested in the town square.
@Chewns:
One arrested
Not looking good. Sky News describing “major incident”
@Vladimir Macro: It’s more likely to be Islamists/Jihadists rather than anything to do with BLM.
@Vladimir Macro: you must feel pretty stupid as it was nothing got to do with BLM.
@Vladimir Macro: because the attack had nothing to do with BLM gathering. That’s why.
@James Walsh: it is unless other terrorist are adopting the Allah Akbar chant
@Johnny 5: you have proof of that
Anyone sharing footage of this tragic incident should be reported to the relevant authorities. The grieving families are going through enough torture without knowing their loved ones murder is all over WhatsApp and Facebook. My thoughts are with the victims families at this sad time. Hoping those injured make a full recovery.
@Johnny 5: well said, for all the flak the media gets anymore, they at least are professional and have an established protocol for sensitive matters such as this.
Ah shure it’s just “part and parcel of living in a big city”
3 white Brits stabbed in the neck and another 10 white Brits or so seriously injured by an ethnic minority migrant after a BLM event in Reading park. More carnage was avoided by the heroism of a police officer.
@Merlin Lancelot: Hopefully he was a white police officer, then you can feel even more smug than you do right now.
That’s horrible, hopefully everyone makes a speedy recovery x
Ya blm lol guaranteed
@Seosamh Púinse: it’s not
“Part and parcel”
It has been confirmed, 3 people killed and more with very serious injuries
RIP to those murdered and a hopefully quick recovery to the injured
Dublin Live headline. Could of just said reading
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