Belfast South: Women's Coalition candidate, Ms Monica McWilliams's hopes of retaining her place in the Assembly ended yesterday when she was eliminated on the 12th count. Mark Hennessy reports.
The seats were taken by two Ulster Unionists, Mr Michael McGimpsey and Mr Esmond Birnie; two SDLP candidates, Dr Alasdair McDonnell and Ms Carmel Hanna, Sinn Fein's Mr Alex Maskey and Mr Mark Robinson of the DUP. Ms McWilliams, who won 3,912 votes in the 1998 elections, was in trouble from the first count on Thursday when she polled just 2,150 first preferences.
The election of Mr Maskey, who transferred into the constituency from his West Belfast base two years ago, is one of SF's most spectacular victories.
Mr McGimpsey was elected on the first count and his transfers played a key role in bringing home one of his two running mates, outgoing Assembly member, Mr Esmond Birnie.
Mr Birnie also took the lion's share of the transfers available from the UUP's third candidate, Mr John Hiddleston on his elimination, and he got 441 transfers from Alliance Party's Ms Geraldine Rice. The two SDLP candidates, Dr McDonnell and Ms Hanna filled the last two seats. The party's vote in the constituency was down by over 3,000 on the Westminster election performance.