Derry & Strabane Council Election 2023: Two new Sinn Féin Councillors complete the line up for Derg

The election of Antaine Ó Fearghail and Caroline Devine meant that Sinn Fein have returned all six candidates put forward for both the Sperrin and Derg wards.

Earlier running mate and sitting Sinn Féin Councillor Ruairí McHugh was returned on the first count after exceeding the quota.

Stage 3

The lowest-polling candidates – Leza Marie Houston of Aontú, Adam McGinley of People Before Profit and Anne Murray of Alliance – were eliminated after stage 3.

The distribution is as follows: Caroline Devine SF (0.14+) 1246.28 votes; Antaine O'Fearghail 0.28+ (1197.28 votes); Steven Edwards SDLP (21.42+) 748.20 votes; Andy Patton (72.52+) 586.94 votes; Anne Murray Alliance (28.98+) 207.24 votes; Adam McGinley PBPA (8.12+) 120.68 votes; and Leza Marie Houston Aontú (3.78+) 102.78 votes.

Houston, McGinley and Murray have been excluded.

Stage 2

Derek Hussey has been elected after the second stage of the count in the Derg District Electoral Area (DEA).

The veteran UUP man benefitted from the transfers of poll-topping DUP candidate Keith Kerrigan.

Stage 2 distribution: Derek Hussey UUP (+215.88) (1,592.88 votes); Antaine Ó Fearghail SF (+0) 1,197 votes; Caroline Devine SF (+0.14) 1,246.14 votes; Steven Edwards SDLP (3.78+) 726.78 votes; Andy Patton Independent (7.42+) 514.42 votes; Anne Murray Alliance (+1.26 (178.26 votes); Adam McGinley PBPA (+0.56) 112.56 votes); and Leza Marie Houston Aontú (+0) 99 votes.

Stage 1

Both Keith Kerrigan of the DUP and Ruairí McHugh of Sinn Féin exceeded the quota and were deemed elected after the first count in the Derg District Electoral Area (DEA).

The first preference tallies were as follows: Keith Kerrigan DUP (1,669 votes); Ruairí McHugh SF (1,442 votes); Derek Hussey UUP (1,377 votes); Antaine Ó Fearghail SF (1,197 votes); Caroline Devine SF (1,246 votes); Steven Edwards SDLP (723 votes); Andy Patton Independent (507 votes); Anne Murray Alliance (177 votes); Adam McGinley PBPA (112 votes); and Leza Marie Houston Aontú (99 votes).

In total 8660 votes were cast but 119 were spoilt leaving a valid vote tally of 8,549 votes.

The quota was set at 1,425 votes.

Derg DEA overview

Candidates standing in the Derg ward in alphabetical order are: Caroline Devine (Sinn Féin), Steven Edwards (SDLP), Leza Marie Houston (Aontú), Derek Hussey (UUP), Keith Kerrigan (DUP), Adam McGinley (People Before Profit), Ruairí McHugh (Sinn Féin), Anne Murray (Alliance Party), Antaine Ó Fearghail (Sinn Féin), Andy Patton (Independent).