Newry and Armagh: Murphy retains Newry & Armagh seat

majority of more than 8,000 votes

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy has been re-elected in Newry and Armagh, again with a sizeable majority.

Mr Murphy polled 18,857 votes, the SDLP's Dominic Bradley, who came second in the constituency, received 10,526.

Danny Kennedy, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, polled 8,558 votes, William Irwin, DUP, 5,764, independent William Frazer, 656, and Andrew Muir, Alliance Party, 545.

Mr Murphy is the minister for regional development in the Executive.

He said the election showed people supported power-sharing.

"I think there's a very clear mandate for all of us collectively," he said.

"Given that those on one side who reject the progress that has been made got a derisory vote and those on the other side who are trying to halt progress hadn't the courage to even put their arguments in front of the electorate."

He said there was work to be done to address the economic problems facing the constituency.