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| Sinn Fein tops poll in Euro count | Sinn Fein tops poll in Euro count |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun has topped the poll in the European Parliamentary election in Northern Ireland. | Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun has topped the poll in the European Parliamentary election in Northern Ireland. |
| She has broken a record the DUP has held since 1979. Ms de Brun got 126,184 votes and was the only candidate to reach the quota on the first count. | She has broken a record the DUP has held since 1979. Ms de Brun got 126,184 votes and was the only candidate to reach the quota on the first count. |
| Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists was the second MEP returned, elected at the third stage. | Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists was the second MEP returned, elected at the third stage. |
| Diane Dodds of the DUP took the final seat at the fourth stage. | |
| She had the second highest number of first preference votes, 88,346, just ahead of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists with 82,893. | She had the second highest number of first preference votes, 88,346, just ahead of the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists with 82,893. |
| Jim Allister, TUV, got 66,197 first preferences, but was later eliminated. | Jim Allister, TUV, got 66,197 first preferences, but was later eliminated. |
| FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES Agnew, Green Party - 15,764Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice - 66,197De Brun, Sinn Fein - 126,184Dodds, DUP - 88,346 Maginness, SDLP - 78,489Nicholson, Ulster Conservative and Unionist - 82,893Parsley, Alliance - 26,699 Quota: 121,144 Agnew and Parsley eliminated In quotes: NI European election | FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES Agnew, Green Party - 15,764Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice - 66,197De Brun, Sinn Fein - 126,184Dodds, DUP - 88,346 Maginness, SDLP - 78,489Nicholson, Ulster Conservative and Unionist - 82,893Parsley, Alliance - 26,699 Quota: 121,144 Agnew and Parsley eliminated In quotes: NI European election |
| The DUP had 32% of the entire first preference vote in 2004, this time it has fallen to 18.2%. | The DUP had 32% of the entire first preference vote in 2004, this time it has fallen to 18.2%. |
| The DUP votes have gone to Mr Allister, who split from the DUP over its decision to enter government with Sinn Fein. | The DUP votes have gone to Mr Allister, who split from the DUP over its decision to enter government with Sinn Fein. |
| He was eliminated at the second stage with a total of 70,481 votes but indicated he would stand in North Antrim in the next general election - taking on the DUP in their heartland. | He was eliminated at the second stage with a total of 70,481 votes but indicated he would stand in North Antrim in the next general election - taking on the DUP in their heartland. |
| Mr Allister said he had attained 30% of the unionist vote, adding: "That is a remarkable achievement and shows the depth of feeling that there is among many unionists who refuse to be rolled over in the era of Sinn Fein rule." | Mr Allister said he had attained 30% of the unionist vote, adding: "That is a remarkable achievement and shows the depth of feeling that there is among many unionists who refuse to be rolled over in the era of Sinn Fein rule." |
| At the second stage, the redistribution of the Alliance and the Green Party votes went mainly to the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists and the SDLP. | At the second stage, the redistribution of the Alliance and the Green Party votes went mainly to the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists and the SDLP. |
| Mr Allister also got more than 4,000 of those transfers. | Mr Allister also got more than 4,000 of those transfers. |
| Veteran MEP Jim Nicholson, who stood on an Ulster Conservatives and Unionists ticket, said he was very pleased with his performance. | Veteran MEP Jim Nicholson, who stood on an Ulster Conservatives and Unionists ticket, said he was very pleased with his performance. |
| "We have done it, the Ulster Conservative and Unionist Party is back and we're back in style. | "We have done it, the Ulster Conservative and Unionist Party is back and we're back in style. |
| "Things are changing, they're changing our way. We're on our way back and that's good. And we feel good today." | "Things are changing, they're changing our way. We're on our way back and that's good. And we feel good today." |
| In the past Mr Nicholson had always been elected behind the DUP. | In the past Mr Nicholson had always been elected behind the DUP. |
| Bairbre de Brun topped the poll in Northern Ireland | Bairbre de Brun topped the poll in Northern Ireland |
| Sinn Fein's vote is down 0.3% on the last European poll in 2004; the Conservatives and Unionists are up 0.5%; the SDLP has increased its vote by 0.3% and the Green Party is up 2.4%. | Sinn Fein's vote is down 0.3% on the last European poll in 2004; the Conservatives and Unionists are up 0.5%; the SDLP has increased its vote by 0.3% and the Green Party is up 2.4%. |
| The Alliance Party said it was their best result in any election since 1998. | The Alliance Party said it was their best result in any election since 1998. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said there were a number of reasons for the DUP's poor performance. | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said there were a number of reasons for the DUP's poor performance. |
| "The Westminster expenses story and doubts about Diane Dodds' TV performances clearly played into the DUP reversal. | "The Westminster expenses story and doubts about Diane Dodds' TV performances clearly played into the DUP reversal. |
| "As the dominant party in the executive they were also always going to be in line to be hit by a protest vote. | "As the dominant party in the executive they were also always going to be in line to be hit by a protest vote. |
| "One of the most important factors is that this was the first election since the DUP did its deal with Sinn Fein. They were always going to lose a section of their "never, never, never" support base." | "One of the most important factors is that this was the first election since the DUP did its deal with Sinn Fein. They were always going to lose a section of their "never, never, never" support base." |
| Turnout, confirmed at just below 43%, has fallen dramatically from the last election. It means that 488,891 people in Northern Ireland voted. | Turnout, confirmed at just below 43%, has fallen dramatically from the last election. It means that 488,891 people in Northern Ireland voted. |
| There were 4,319 rejected papers and 484,572 valid papers. | There were 4,319 rejected papers and 484,572 valid papers. |
| Three hundred people are counting the papers at the Kings Hall in Belfast. | Three hundred people are counting the papers at the Kings Hall in Belfast. |