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| Fearghal McKinney chosen as MLA to replace SDLP's Conall McDevitt | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The SDLP has chosen Fearghal McKinney to replace Conall McDevitt as MLA for South Belfast. | The SDLP has chosen Fearghal McKinney to replace Conall McDevitt as MLA for South Belfast. |
| Mr McKinney beat South Belfast SDLP councillor Claire Hanna by 113 votes to 69 at a party selection contest in the city on Thursday evening, | Mr McKinney beat South Belfast SDLP councillor Claire Hanna by 113 votes to 69 at a party selection contest in the city on Thursday evening, |
| The new MLA is a former news reporter with UTV. | |
| Mr McDevitt resigned after it emerged he had failed to declare more than £6,000 earned from a public relations firm shortly after he became an MLA. | Mr McDevitt resigned after it emerged he had failed to declare more than £6,000 earned from a public relations firm shortly after he became an MLA. |
| Mr McKinney and Ms Hanna were the only two candidates who contested the co-option to his vacated seat. | Mr McKinney and Ms Hanna were the only two candidates who contested the co-option to his vacated seat. |
| 'Stalemate' | 'Stalemate' |
| More than 250 party members attended the selection meeting in a south Belfast hotel, during which both candidates made speeches and took questions. | More than 250 party members attended the selection meeting in a south Belfast hotel, during which both candidates made speeches and took questions. |
| Speaking after the vote, Mr McKinney said: "It is an honour to have been selected by the delegates in South Belfast to represent them and the whole constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. | Speaking after the vote, Mr McKinney said: "It is an honour to have been selected by the delegates in South Belfast to represent them and the whole constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| "As I said this evening people are disillusioned with the stalemate at Stormont and deserve so much more. | "As I said this evening people are disillusioned with the stalemate at Stormont and deserve so much more. |
| "I bring SDLP values and a steadfast commitment to improve our political discourse and champion the hopes and ambitions of people across this region," Mr McKinney added. | "I bring SDLP values and a steadfast commitment to improve our political discourse and champion the hopes and ambitions of people across this region," Mr McKinney added. |
| Writing on her Twitter account after the selection contest, Ms Hanna congratulated her successful opponent and thanked her own supporters. | Writing on her Twitter account after the selection contest, Ms Hanna congratulated her successful opponent and thanked her own supporters. |
| She wrote: "Mad six days, threw my hat in the ring for Conall's co-option. I didn't get it, but thanks to my wee team & congratulations Fearghal." | She wrote: "Mad six days, threw my hat in the ring for Conall's co-option. I didn't get it, but thanks to my wee team & congratulations Fearghal." |
| Campaigning role | Campaigning role |
| Mr McKinney, 51, was born in Londonderry and grew up in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. | Mr McKinney, 51, was born in Londonderry and grew up in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. |
| He worked as a newspaper reporter in Enniskillen before moving to Belfast to work in radio and TV. | He worked as a newspaper reporter in Enniskillen before moving to Belfast to work in radio and TV. |
| The married father-of-three was employed by UTV for 15 years, but left the organisation in 2009 to set up a digital media business. | The married father-of-three was employed by UTV for 15 years, but left the organisation in 2009 to set up a digital media business. |
| The following year, Mr McKinney stood as the SDLP's Fermanagh South Tyrone candidate in the 2010 General Election. | The following year, Mr McKinney stood as the SDLP's Fermanagh South Tyrone candidate in the 2010 General Election. |
| He got 3,574 votes, equating to 7.6% of ballots cast. | He got 3,574 votes, equating to 7.6% of ballots cast. |
| The sitting Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew, polled 21,304, retaining her seat by just four votes ahead of the unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor. | The sitting Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew, polled 21,304, retaining her seat by just four votes ahead of the unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor. |
| After the Westminster election, Mr McKinney was appointed as vice-chair of the SDLP, and took on a campaigning and organisational role within the party. | After the Westminster election, Mr McKinney was appointed as vice-chair of the SDLP, and took on a campaigning and organisational role within the party. |
| Following his co-option, it is expected that he will be sworn in as a new MLA at the assembly early next week. | Following his co-option, it is expected that he will be sworn in as a new MLA at the assembly early next week. |