NI POLITICS

O’Neill hails ‘momentous’ result as Sinn Féin becomes largest in local government

Sinn Féin has 138 seats, the DUP currently has 120 council seats, the Alliance Party 65, the Ulster Unionists 53 and the SDLP 39, with 33 others

Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald celebrate historic win for Republican party Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland local elections

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill has hailed a “momentous” election result with her party becoming the largest in councils in Northern Ireland.

As the local government elections count neared its conclusion on Saturday evening, the republican party had 138 elected councillors, with gains achieved across the region.

With just a small number of seats outstanding, it means Sinn Fein has replicated its result from last year’s Northern Ireland Assembly election when it became the ...