If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again..
That is certainly the case for veteran Derry human and civil rights campaigner, Eamonn McCann, who has won his first election 47 years after his first attempt.
The 73-year-old journalist, author and political activist, who stood as a People Before Profit candidate, was deemed elected in the Foyle constituency shortly before 1.00am this morning.
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, who topped the poll, had to wait until the eighth count before being elected along with SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and his party colleague, Mark H Durkan.
The DUP’s Gary Middleton was the first to be elected followed by Sinn Fein’s Raymond McCartney.
However, outgoing MLAs, Gerard Diver, of the SDLP, and Sinn Fein’s Maeve McLaughlin, the chairperson of the Assembly’s Health Committee, failed in their attempts to be returned to Stormont.
Speaking at the close of the count, Mr McGuinness dismissed suggestions the election in Foyle had been a failure for Sinn Fein in that it had failed to take a third seat.
"I would not use the word failure, we held our two seats.
“We did set out to take three seats but I think the party that will be most disappointed in this constituency will be the SDLP who will drop to two seats."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the election in Foyle was a “good result” despite his party losing a seat.
He said: “We have once again emerged as the largest party in Derry with an increased margin over Sinn Fein, so I think that is a very good result.”
Photo shows Deputy Returning Officer Patricia Murphy confirming the election of the six MLAs in the Foyle constituency shortly before 1.00am this morning. From left, Raymond McCartney (Sinn Fein), Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein), Eamonn McCann (People Before Profit), Mark H Durkan(SDLP), Colum Eastw00d (SDLP) and Gary Middleton (DUP).
Meanwhile, counting continues today in the East Derry constituency to fill the remaining four seats following the election yesterday of DUP duo Maurice Bradley and George Robinson.
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