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Francie Molloy holds Mid Ulster seat for Sinn Féin Francie Molloy holds Mid Ulster seat for Sinn Féin
(35 minutes later)
Sinn Féin has retained the Westminster seat of Mid Ulster vacated by the departure of Martin McGuinness on a majority cut sharply from the general election.Sinn Féin has retained the Westminster seat of Mid Ulster vacated by the departure of Martin McGuinness on a majority cut sharply from the general election.
The veteran republican Francie Molloy was elected as boycott MP after polling 17,462 votes (46.93%), although the Sinn Féin majority was down by almost 10,000 votes.The veteran republican Francie Molloy was elected as boycott MP after polling 17,462 votes (46.93%), although the Sinn Féin majority was down by almost 10,000 votes.
His closest rival, the United Unionist Coalition candidate Nigel Lutton, received 12,781 votes on a lower than expected 55% turnout at the polls on Thursday.His closest rival, the United Unionist Coalition candidate Nigel Lutton, received 12,781 votes on a lower than expected 55% turnout at the polls on Thursday.
The contest was dominated by issues from the Troubles: a neighbouring MP alleged Molloy had been part of an IRA unit which killed Lutton's policeman father in 1979, and there wererevelations that Lutton's uncle was a convicted killer in a loyalist terrorist group. Throughout the campaign, Molloy strenuously denied any involvement in the murder of Lutton's father.The contest was dominated by issues from the Troubles: a neighbouring MP alleged Molloy had been part of an IRA unit which killed Lutton's policeman father in 1979, and there wererevelations that Lutton's uncle was a convicted killer in a loyalist terrorist group. Throughout the campaign, Molloy strenuously denied any involvement in the murder of Lutton's father.
At the count in Cookstown, Molloy said: "We were contesting against the deputy first minister, so that was a very hard act to follow and hopefully we will fill those shoes."At the count in Cookstown, Molloy said: "We were contesting against the deputy first minister, so that was a very hard act to follow and hopefully we will fill those shoes."
He will take his seat in the assembly but boycott Westminster because Sinn Féin refuses to recognise its right to legislate for any part of Ireland.
McGuinness, who stepped down from the Westminster seat in line with Sinn Féin's policy of no double-jobbing among its abstentionist MPs and assembly members, blamed the media for his party's drop in the vote in a constituency it has dominated since 1997.McGuinness, who stepped down from the Westminster seat in line with Sinn Féin's policy of no double-jobbing among its abstentionist MPs and assembly members, blamed the media for his party's drop in the vote in a constituency it has dominated since 1997.
"The media said Francie Molloy is home in a boat, Nigel Lutton has no prospect whatsoever and I think a certain amount of complacency sets in," he said. "For us it was a tremendous result of 17,000 votes. A great result for Francie Molly and a great result for Sinn Féin.""The media said Francie Molloy is home in a boat, Nigel Lutton has no prospect whatsoever and I think a certain amount of complacency sets in," he said. "For us it was a tremendous result of 17,000 votes. A great result for Francie Molly and a great result for Sinn Féin."
Lutton, who works as a funeral director, described himself as "the undertaker that resurrected unionism". He said that by standing as a UUC candidate he had set a precedent for unionism in every constituency across Northern Ireland.Lutton, who works as a funeral director, described himself as "the undertaker that resurrected unionism". He said that by standing as a UUC candidate he had set a precedent for unionism in every constituency across Northern Ireland.
Both the SDLP and Alliance party candidates increased their votes in a lower turnout but were never close to challenging in the mainly rural constituency.Both the SDLP and Alliance party candidates increased their votes in a lower turnout but were never close to challenging in the mainly rural constituency.