Election 2017: Sinn Fein return all three candidates in Mid Ulster

Sinn Fein have returned all three of their candidates in Mid Ulster, with Michell O'Neill declaring a 'win for us is a win for all'.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Mar 2017, 17:09 BST

Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:59 BST

The party’s leader in Northern Ireland topped the poll and passed the quota with 10,258 first preference votes, a massive gain on her total at last year’s Assembly election (6,147).

Her running mates Linda Dillon and Ian Milne also retained their seats, having been elected at the second stage of counting at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena.

Meanwhile, the DUP is also celebrating after its sole candidate in the constituency, Keith Buchanan, polled 9,568 first preference votes, passing the quota on the first count.

There is still one seat up for grabs, with SDLP’s Patsy McGlone looking likely to complete the line up.

The turnout here was 72.38%, a huge rise on last year’s figure of 58.8%.