Martina Anderson awaits the declaration with husband Paul and Martin McGuinness.
Derry woman Martina Anderson is on her way back to Brussels after being re-elected to the European Parliament.
The Sinn Fein MEP was elected after the first count in Belfast’s King’s Hall after topping the poll in last Thursday’s election with 159,813 first preference votes – 25.5% of the votes cast.
Martina Anderson celebrates her victory with Martin McGuinness.
Ms Anderson, who has been an MEP since May 2012, had over 28,000 votes to spare over her nearest rival, Diane Dodds, of the DUP.
Jim Nicholson, of the UUP, totalled 24,584 first preference votes.
Both unionists are certain to retain their seats as they each have amassed enough first preference votes that transfers will see them over the line.
Alex Attwood, of the SDLP, polled 81,501 first preference votes which is not enough to get him elected.
Mark Brotherson, of the Northern Ireland Conservative Party, polled only 4,144 votes and has been eliminated.
The count, which is expected to go on until late into the night, is continuing with the distribution of Ms Anderson’s and Mr Brotherson’s votes.
The result of the first count is:
• Anna Lo (Alliance Party) 44,432
• Mark Brotherston (NI Conservative) 4,144
• Diane Dodds (Democratic Unionist Party) 131,163
• Ross Brown (Green Party) 10,598
• Tina McKenzie (NI21) 10,553
• Martina Anderson (Sinn Fein) 159,813
• Alex Attwood (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 81,594
• Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice) 75,806
• Henry Reilly, UKIP (United Kingdom Indpendence Party) 24,584
• Jim Nicholson (Ulster Unionist Party) 83,438
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