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LAST UPDATE | 13 Dec 2019
SINN FÉIN’S JOHN Finucane has been elected MP for North Belfast, unseating DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds.
Finucane, the current Lord Mayor of Belfast, was elected in the early hours of this morning.
The SDLP had pulled out of the constituency to give Finucane and his remain-backing party the best chance of defeating the DUP.
The loss of Dodds, who is the party’s leader in Westminster, is a major blow to the DUP.
Finucane paid tribute to his father Pat Finucane, a solicitor who was murdered during the Troubles.
“I can’t help but think of my father and where we have come from, not just as a family but as a society as well,” he said
The success for Sinn Féin in Belfast caps a good few weeks for the party. In November, the party won the by-election in Dublin Mid-West after a poor showing at the European and local elections in May.
Sinn Féin had put poured significant effort into the constituency, with some campaigners coming from as far as Cork to back Finucane.
“I am absolutely very disappointed, not just for North Belfast, but also for Northern Ireland,” said DUP leader Arlene Foster in response to Dodd’s defeat.
“I think it’s clear the demography wasn’t there,” she said. “The pan-nationalist front has come to fruition again.”
Belfast South
In Belfast South, the SDLP’s Claire Hanna defeated the DUP’s Emma Little Pengelly.
Hanna, who was tipped to win after Sinn Féin pulled out from contesting the seat, campaigned as a strong Remain voice in Westminster.
Little Pengelly took the seat from the SDLP former leader Alasdair McDonnell at the last election in 2017 by only a few thousand votes.
The success is a significant boost for the SDLP, which found itself without any MPs after the 2017 election.
In Foyle, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also defeated Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion by 17,110 votes.
What a disaster. Looks like the send off this morning is gonna be a disaster as well turnout wise. Perfect ending for him. Hopefully jail time in a few months time will be the icing on the cake.
@theseldomseenkid: Yes he may see his comeuppance in New York yet.
@Seán O’Loughlin: hope there is toilet paper stuck to his shoe
@theseldomseenkid: i dont understand your TURNOUT WISE PART. Did u hear about the pneumonic disease that exist all over the world , hint its called covid and large gathering banned so whats the turnout wise all about
@O’loughlin John: Trump sent out invites which many ignored, including Pence who is attending the inauguration. Pity those who did attend don’t realise that huddling together and not wearing masks is a sure fire way of spreading the virus further.
@O’loughlin John: as in he had tried to get a big turnout to send him off and only 200 people turned up. If you had paid attention over the last year you may have noticed at his rallies there was no attempt to abide by any of the common sense things that prevent the spread the pneumonic disease as you call it. But I think you knew that.
Good riddance, a global slow clap would be apt
He trying to rewrite history with his speech. Good riddance to that blot on history.
One word KARMA.
Bye bye now… Bubye…bye…… Is he gone yet? Is robot Melania switched off yet?
The looky likey shop must be running out of Melanias, that’s the worst one yet.
A great day, we can all chill, relax and enjoy the warm glow of Trumplessness for ever and ever, hopefully.
Probably slamming all the doors on his way out like a child. Lol
@Ciaran Farrelly: pockets stuffed with stationery
@Ciaran Farrelly:. Much more effective to leave doors open when leaving so your enemies have to get up all disgruntled and close them.
Is it possible to die from cringing? I can’t take much more of him giving himself a glowing school report. ‘Donald is a lovely child who does his best.’
Even without the crowds there’s a massive difference in atmosphere between now an four years ago. You can almost feel the relief that the megalomaniac Trump has left the building.
dont let the door hit you on the way out
Lying like a madman to the very end. All About Me.
Thank fXck this is over.
Bidens first order of business for the president will be to be legally allowed to sniff any head he wants.
Many thanks to Joe Biden. He is only in augurated a few hours but has performed a miracle in that time. He has knocked Covid-19 and mRNA vaccines off the headlines of journal.ie. Unprecedented!
And the world unclenches!!!!!
You know a lot of people are saying he left a jobbie in the toilet and didn’t flush or wash his hands.
@ED209: Better get the cleaners in asap!
I wouldn’t open the letter trump left for President Biden as there is probably ricin in it.
Why are you spelling Kamala, ‘Kamela’ repeatedly?!
Tricia G should be the Journals US political correpondant. A very lucrative role I would imagine.
Well we know Bill never felt lonely on the Oval Office !!
Unbelievable how the majority here are brainwashed by MSM and actually believe biden is great and spout negative stuff shout Mr trump maybe you guys should try open your eyes a bit
Biden is a corrupt doddery non entity who has been installed as a result of organized fraud and will make the world a more dangerous place.
Wish Biden and Harris all the best.
Thanks be to God
Don’t forget to turn off the lights….
@Vincent Bickerstaffe: I reckon he left all the lights on deliberately and the immersion too
Still think Trump might pull a John Boy and turn up here
We will miss you my blonde, thank you for what you have done for our “country” (not US)
Come “home” after all of this, you will get huge welcome and great rewards
Cya soon
@Ní neart go cur le chéile.: what
@Ní neart go cur le chéile.: Doonbeg locals gone mad online.
@Ní neart go cur le chéile.: awful trolling. Must try harder.
@Seán Ó Briain: I meant China, he’s done amazing job for us
I’ve never seen chinese united like now, all because of him, much better job compare China’s gov
Also we have seen the china gov response as well
We call him “chuan jianguo”
It is trolling, but also it is true
@Paul Furey: :) we know it doesn’t matter who is in power, the US policy towards China is the same
@Ed: cringeville, he bought the already developed resort for a song
And Milan leaves him
have your say