North Antrim: There was only one major surprise at the North Antrim count in the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney yesterday, and that was the absence of DUP leader, Dr Ian Paisley. He was not there to witness an electoral first in his constituency - the election of a Sinn Féin representative to the Assembly. Liam Reid reports.
Mr Philip McGuigan (30) was elected on the ninth count, getting the necessary transfers from the elimination of the SDLP's Mr Declan O'Loan.
Mr McGuigan said the failure of Dr Paisley and his colleagues to turn up was "unfortunate". The nationalist community in North Antrim had endured "dark days" in the past. "It is a truly historic day for North Antrim."
The counting took place amid high security as Sinn Féin supporters gathered outside the count centre before the official election result.
The transfer of Mr O'Loan's 2,515 votes was enough to bring in his SDLP colleague, Mr Sean Farren - the former Assembly finance minister - ahead of Mr James Currie of the UUP, and he was elected without reaching the quota.
Mr Farren said he hoped the DUP's non-attendance was not a sign of "an unwillingness on their part to work together".
