Sinn Fein polling strongly in East Derry

The quota for the constituency stands at 6,979 and John Dallat is currently sitting on less than half of that with 3,440 votes by the third stage of the count.

It remains to be seen whether support for former SDLP MLA Gerry Mullan, standing as an independent after being de-selected by his former party, may have cost the SDLP a seat in East Derry.

Mr Mullan said he was happy with his 1,204 first preference votes, and said he could now hold his head high after 16 years in politics representing local people.

Caoimhe Archibald has topped the poll in East Derry, and by the end of stage three was sitting on 5,934, still around 1,000 short of the quota.

Cathal O hOisin is sitting on 4,979 votes after the third round, after the elimination of Conservative, PUP, People Before Profit and Green Party candidates.

Former Justice Minister Claire Sugden has polled strongly in the constituency and is currently on 5,102 votes, while the DUP’s Maurice Bradley also looks set to take a seat with 5,473 votes.

His party colleague George Robinson is currently sitting at 4,730, votes, while the DUP’s third candidate Adrian McQuillan has 3,890 votes.

UUP candidate William McCandless has almost tipped the 3,000 votes mark, while Alliance’s Chris McCaw is on 2,150.

It could be some time yet before the first candidate is elected in East Derry, as all remaining candidates are still some distance away from the quota.