People Before Profit candidate Eamonn McCann still in with a shout of an Assembly seat in Foyle
THERE could be a few new faces and even a few old faces graces the benches of the Assembly later this month.
Although the turnout across the North of Ireland is down, the fortunes of the independent candidates are certainly on the up.
Dr Anne McCloskey says she is “quietly hopeful” of becoming an MLA after securing 3,410 votes in first stage of the counting process in Foyle.
It could be a red-faced day for Sinn Fein as Dr McCloskey has come in ahead of two Sinn Fein candidates.
And socialist Eamonn McCann, who at 73 is the oldest candidate in the election, has also done well in Foyle.
If McCann and McCloskey get in, it would bloody noses for either Sinn Fein and the SDLP.
Meanwhile in East Derry, no one reached quota of 4,915 after the first count.
Maurice Bradley has topped the poll for the DUP with 4,630 votes.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says it is the “year of the independents”.
He added: “It’s because this Executive hasn’t delivered for places like Derry.
“But we’ve out polled Sinn Fein and that’s a huge success.”
TURNOUT
FOYLE – 56.00 per cent (2011 – 56.40)
EAST DERRY – 50.79 per cent (2011 – 52.79)
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