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Assembly Election (NI) Thursday 25 June 1998



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Text and Research: Martin Melaugh and Fionnuala McKenna
Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change

Assembly Election (NI)
Thursday 25 June 1998

This page contains the results of the 25 June 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly Election.
There is also a list of those political parties and candidates who stood in the 1998 Assembly Election.

Introduction

The following provides the results from the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies where the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly Election was contested. Voting in the election was by Proportional Representation (PR) using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.

When the votes were counted, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) topped the poll with the largest number of first preference votes. This was the first, and only, time the SDLP topped a NI regional poll. It was also the first time a nationalist party had come first. In terms of seats won, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) came first with 28 seats to the SDLP's 24.

For a detailed analysis of the results, see:
ARK - Northern Ireland Elections: NI Assembly Elections 1998; and
Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI). (1998). The Northern Ireland Assembly Election (results), (25 June 1998), [PDF; 2661KB]. Belfast: EONI. ... [19706] - [Report]

Summary of Results

Electorate: 1,178,556
Turnout: 823,565 (69.88%)
Spoiled votes: 13,248
Valid votes cast: 810,317

Party
No. 1st
Preference Votes
% Votes
No. Seats
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
177,963
21.96
24
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
172,225
21.25
28
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
145,917
18.01
20
Sinn Féin (SF)
142,858
17.63
18
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI)
52,636
6.50
6
United Kingdom Unionists (UKU)
36,541
4.51
5
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
20,634
2.55
2
NI Women's Coalition (WC)
13,019
1.61
2
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP)
8,651
1.07
0
Labour (Lab)
2,729
0.34
0
Others
37,144
4.58
3
Total
810,317
100.00
108

Source: Various media reports

Constituency Results

The results for each of the 18 constituencies contain the following information:
Name of constituency
Size of Electorate; Turnout; Total Valid Poll; and Quota
Outcome of vote
Name of candidate; (Party); Number of first preference votes; and the count on which the candidate was elected.

East Antrim

Electorate: 59,313
Turnout: 36,103 (60.87%)
Total Valid Poll: 35,610
Quota: 5,088

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Roy Beggs Junior (UUP)
5,764
Elected 1st Count
Sean Neeson (Alliance)
5,247
Elected 1st Count
David Hilditch (DUP)
4,876
Elected 8th Count
Jack McKee (DUP)
3,013
.
Roger Hutchinson (UKU)
2,866
Elected 13th Count
Mrs May Steele (UUP)
2,399
.
Ken Robinson (UUP)
2,384
Elected 13th Count
Danny O'Connor (SDLP)
2,106
Elected 13th Count
Stewart Dickson (Alliance)
1,921
.
James Brown (Unionist)
1,571
.
William Greer (PUP)
1,432
.
Mrs Chrissy McAuley (SF)
746
.
Tommy Kirkham (UDP)
596
.
Robert Lindsay Mason (ProAgreement)
424
.
Terence Dick (C)
233
.
James Barr McKissock (NLP)
32
.


North Antrim

Electorate: 73,247
Turnout: 50,561 (67.03%)
Total Valid Poll: 49,697
Quota: 7,101

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
The Rev Ian Paisley (DUP)
10,590
Elected 1st Count
Sean Farren (SDLP)
6,433
Elected 6th Count
The Rev Robert Coulter (UUP)
5,407
Elected 10th Count
Ian Paisley Junior (DUP)
4,459
Elected 2nd Count
Gardiner Kane (DUP)
3,638
Elected 12th Count
James Leslie (UUP)
3,458
Elected 12th Count
William Wright (United)
3,297
.
Miss Jayne Dunlop (Alliance)
2,282
.
Miss Patricia Campbell (UUP)
2,199
.
James McCarry (SF)
2,024
.
Joe Cahill (SF)
2,021
.
Malachy McCamphill (SDLP)
1,982
.
Richard Rodgers (PUP)
641
.
Oliver McMullan (Ind Nat)
478
.
Maurice McAllister (UDP)
400
.
Chris McCaughan (Ind)
194
.
John Wright (NLP)
156
.
Thomas Palmer (Ind)
38
.



South Antrim

Electorate: 69,426
Turnout: 44,599 (64.24%)
Total Valid Poll: 43,991
Quota: 6,285

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Jim Wilson (UUP)
6,691
Elected 1st Count
Wilson Clyde (DUP)
6,034
Elected 6th count
Norman Boyd (UKU)
4,360
Elected 7th Count
Donovan McClelland (SDLP)
4,309
Elected 8th Count
Duncan Shipley-Dalton (UUP)
4,147
Elected 9th Count
David Ford (Alliance)
3,778
Elected 10th Count
Tommy Burns (SDLP)
3,474
.
Martin Meehan (SF)
3,226
.
Stuart Deignan (DUP)
2,816
.
Norman Hunter (UUP)
2,337
.
Ken Wilkinson (PUP)
1,546
.
Ms Joan Cosgrove (NI Women)
1,108
.
Oliver Frawley (Lab)
137
.
George Stidolph (NLP)
28
.



Belfast East

Electorate: 60,562
Turnout: 40,356 (66.64)%
Total Valid Poll: 39,593
Quota: 5,657

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Peter Robinson (DUP)
11,219
Elected 1st Count
Lord Alderdice (Alliance)
6,144
Elected 1st Count
Reg Empey (UUP)
5,158
Elected 12th Count
David Ervine (PUP)
5,114
Elected 7th Count
Ian Adamson (UUP)
3,447
Elected 15th Count
Denny Vitty (UKU)
1,362
.
Peter Jones (SDLP)
1,025
.
Jim Rogers (UUP)
1,015
.
Richard Good (Alliance)
1,000
.
Joe Donnell (SF)
917
.
Ms Pearl Sager (NI Women)
711
.
Sammy Wilson (DUP)
633
Elected 12th Count
Robert Girvan (UDP)
516
.
John Norris (DUP)
373
.
David Bleakley (Lab)
369
.
Miss Dawn Purvis (PUP)
271
.
Ms Lesley Donaldson (C)
203
.
Joe Bell (WP)
79
.
David Collins (NLP)
22
.
John Lawrence (Energy)
15
.



Belfast North

Electorate: 62,541
Turnout: 42,066 (67.26%)
Total Valid Poll: 41,125
Quota: 5,876

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Nigel Dodds (DUP)
7,476
Elected 1st Count
Alban Maginness (SDLP)
6,196
Elected 1st Count
Gerry Kelly (SF)
5,610
Elected 10th Count
Billy Hutchinson (PUP)
3,751
Elected 11th Count
Mrs Martina McIlkenny (SF)
3,165
.
William Agnew (UU)
2,976
Elected 11th Count
Martin Morgan (SDLP)
2,465
.
Fred Cobain (UUP)
2,415
Elected 11th Count
David Browne (UUP)
2,064
.
Eric Smyth (DUP)
1,288
.
Glyn Roberts (Alliance)
1,267
.
John White (UDP)
911
.
Stephen Cooper (UKU)
748
.
Peter Emerson (Green)
257
.
Sam McAughtrey (Lab)
255
.
Steven Doran (WP)
155
.
Kevin Blair (NLP)
76
.
Ms Dolores Quinn (Ind NCC)
50
.



Belfast South

Electorate: 61,209
Turnout: 41,266 (67.42%)
Total Valid Poll: 40,724
Quota: 5,819

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP)
4,956
Elected 6th Count
Michael McGimpsey (UUP)
4,938
Elected 5th Count
Steve McBride (Alliance)
4,086
.
Monica McWilliams (NI Women)
3,912
Elected 10th Count
Mrs Carmel Hanna (SDLP)
3,882
Elected 10th Count
Esmond Birnie (UUP)
2,875
Elected 8th Count
Mark Robinson (DUP)
2,872
Elected 8th Count
Sean Hayes (SF)
2,605
.
Mrs Myreve Chambers (DUP)
2,449
.
Ernie Purvis (PUP)
2,112
.
David Adams (UDP)
1,745
.
Jim Clarke (UUP)
1,720
.
Grant Dillon (UKU)
1,496
.
Wiliam Dixon (Unionist)
437
.
Boyd Black (Lab)
231
.
Paddy Lynn (WP)
176
.
Roger Lomas (C)
97
.
James Anderson (NLP)
73
.
Niall Cusack (Lab)
62
.



Belfast West

Electorate: 60,669
Turnout: 42,754 (70.47%)
Total Valid Poll: 41,794
Quota: 5,972

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Gerry Adams (SF)
9,078
Elected 1st Count
Dr Joe Hendron (SDLP)
6,140
Elected 1st Count
Miss Bairbre de Brun (SF)
4,711
Elected 9th Count
Alex Attwood (SDLP)
4,380
Elected 10th Count
Alex Maskey (SF)
4,330
Elected 10th Count
Miss Sue Ramsey (SF)
3,946
Elected 6th Count
Michael Ferguson (SF)
2,585
.
Hugh Smyth (PUP)
2,180
.
Chris McGimpsey (UUP)
1,640
.
Mrs Margaret Ferris (DUP)
1,345
.
Thomas Dalzell-Sheridan (UKU)
666
.
John Lowry (WP)
607
.
Dan McGuinness (Alliance)
129
.
Michael Kennedy (NLP)
29
.
Ms Mary Cahillane (Soc)
28
.



North Down

Electorate: 62,942
Turnout: 37,874 (60.17%)
Total Valid Poll: 37,313
Quota: 5,331

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Robert McCartney (UKU)
8,188
Elected 1st Count
John Gorman (UUP)
4,719
Elected 6th Count
Alan McFarland (UUP)
4,653
Elected 6th Count
Mrs Eileen Bell (Alliance)
3,669
Elected 9th Count
Peter Weir (UUP)
2,775
Elected 12th Count
Ms Marietta Farrell (SDLP)
2,048
.
Ms Jane Morrice (NI Women)
1,808
Elected 12th Count
Gavin Walker (Alliance)
1,699
.
Alan Graham (DUP)
1,558
.
Alan Chambers (Ulster Ind)
1,382
.
Stewart Currie (PUP)
1,376
.
Brian Wilson (Ind)
1,327
.
St Clair McAlister (DUP)
1,013
.
Leonard Fee (C)
337
.
Tom Lindsay (UDP)
265
.
Ms Vanessa Baird-Gunning (Lab)
212
.
Mrs Elizabeth Roche (UKU)
173
.
Christopher Carter (UIV)
72
.
Ms Andrea Gribben (NLP)
39
.



South Down

Electorate: 71,027
Turnout: 52,342 (73.69%)
Total Valid Poll: 51,53
Quota: 7,337

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Eddie McGrady (SDLP)
10,373
Elected 1st Count
Mick Murphy (SF)
6,251
Elected 6th Count
Patrick Bradley (SDLP)
5,571
Elected 10th Count
Dermot Nesbitt (UUP)
5,480
Elected 8th Count
Jim Wells (DUP)
4,826
Elected 11th Count
Hugh Carr (SDLP)
3,731
.
Eamon O'Neill (SDLP)
3,582
Elected 11th Count
Frederick Wharton (UKU)
2,576
.
Norman Hanna (UUP)
1,939
.
Ms Anne Carr (NI Women)
1,658
.
George Graham (Unionist)
1,562
.
Garret O'Fachtna (SF)
1,520
.
Dr Anne-Marie Cunningham (Alliance)
1,502
.
Malachi Curran (Lab)
498
.
Desmond O'Hagan (WP)
130
.
Patrick O'Connor (Ind Lab)
121
.
Thomas Mullins (NLP)
33
.



Fermanagh South Tyrone

Electorate: 65,383> Turnout: 51,923 (79.41%)
Total Valid Poll: 51,043
Quota: 7,293

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Tommy Gallagher (SDLP)
8,135
Elected 1st Count
Sam Foster (UUP)
5,589
Elected 5th Count
Gerry McHugh (SF)
5,459
Elected 7th Count
Ms Michelle Gildernew (SF)
4,703
Elected 9th Count
Mrs Joan Carson (UUP)
4,400
Elected 10th Count
Jim Dixon (UKU)
4,262
.
Maurice Morrow (DUP)
3,987
Elected 10th Count
Pat Treanor (SF)
3,552
.
Bert Johnston (DUP)
3,095
.
Ms Olive Mullen (SDLP)
2,872
.
Bertie Kerr (UUP)
2,583
.
Ms Marie Crawley (NI Women)
1,729
.
Stephen Farry (Alliance)
614
.
Simeon Gillan (NLP)
63
.



Foyle

Electorate: 68,888
Turnout: 49,604 (72.01%)
Total Valid Poll: 48,794
Quota: 6,972

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
John Hume (SDLP)
12,581
Elected 1st Count
William Hay (DUP)
6,112
Elected 8th Count
Mitchel McLaughlin (SF)
5,341
Elected 5th Count
Jack Allen (UUP)
4,669
.
Mark Durkan (SDLP)
4,423
Elected 6th Count
John Tierney (SDLP)
3,778
Elected 7th Count
Mrs Mary Nelis (SF)
3,464
Elected 8th Count
Ms Annie Courtney (SDLP)
2,560
.
Gearoid O hEara (SF)
2,531
.
Ms Lynn Fleming (SF)
1,360
.
Colm Cavanagh (Alliance)
1,058
.
Ken Adams (Lab)
345
.
Brian Gurney (PUP)
287
.
Peter MacKenzie (Green)
253
.
Donn Brennan (NLP)
32
.



Lagan Valley

Electorate: 71,661
Turnout: 47,074 (65.69%)
Total Valid Poll: 46,510
Quota: 6,645

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Seamus Close (Alliance)
6,788
Elected 1st Count
Billy Bell (UUP)
5,965
Elected 5th Count
Patrick Roche (UKU)
5,361
Elected 9th Count
Edwin Poots (DUP)
5,239
Elected 7th Count
Ms Patricia Lewsley (SDLP)
4,039
Elected 9th Count
Ivan Davis (UUP)
3,927
Elected 9th Count
Gary McMichael (UDP)
3,725
.
David Campbell (UUP)
3,158
.
Cecil Calvert (DUP)
3,111
.
Paul Butler (SF)
2,000
.
Ken Hull (UUP)
1,289
.
Mrs Annie Campbell (NI Women)
955
.
William Bleakes (C)
702
.
Ms Frances McCarthy (WP)
208
.
John Cairns (NLP)
43
.



East Londonderry

Electorate: 59,370
Turnout: 39,564 ? (66.64%) ?
Total Valid Poll: 39,564
Quota: 5,643

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Gregory Campbell (DUP)
6,099
Elected 1st Count
David McClarty (UUP)
5,108
Elected 5th Count
John Dallat (SDLP)
4,760
Elected 6th Count
Arthur Doherty (SDLP)
4,606
Elected 8th Count
Boyd Douglas (Unionist)
3,811
Elected 9th Count
Mrs Pauline Armitage (UUP)
3,315
Elected 9th Count
David Nicholl (UDP)
3,280
.
Malachy O'Kane (SF)
2,521
.
Mrs Barbara Dempsey (Alliance)
2,395
.
Robert McPherson (UUP)
1,531
.
John McIlhenny (SF)
1,339
.
David Gilmour (PUP)
582
.
George Robinson (DUP)
171
.
Maura McCann (NLP)
46
.



Newry and Armagh

Electorate: 71,553
Turnout: 55,293 (77.28%)
Total Valid Poll: 54,136
Quota: 7,735

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Seamus Mallon (SDLP)
13,582
Elected 1st Count
Paul Berry (DUP)
7,214
Elected 4th Count
Danny Kennedy (UUP)
5,495
Elected 6th Count
Conor Murphy (SF)
4,839
Elected 8th Count
Davy Hyland (SF)
4,643
.
Pat McNamee (SF)
4,570
Elected 8th Count
Jim Speers (UUP)
4,324
.
John Fee (SDLP)
3,166
Elected 8th Count
Frank Feeley (SDLP)
2,205
.
Ms Mary Allen (Ind)
1,227
.
Ms Kate Fearon (NI Women)
1,138
.
William Fraser (UI)
933
.
Pete Whitcroft (Alliance)
777
.
David Evans (NLP)
23
.



Strangford

Electorate: 70,868
Turnout: 43,651 (61.59%)
Total Valid Poll: 42,922
Quota: 6,133

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Mrs Iris Robinson (DUP)
9,479
Elected 1st Count
John Taylor (UUP)
9,203
Elected 1st Count
Cedric Wilson (UKU)
3,078
Elected 18th Count
Kieran McCarthy (Alliance)
2,947
Elected 17th Count
Peter Osborne (Alliance)
2,269
.
John Beattie (Ind UU)
2,247
.
Danny McCarthy (SDLP)
1,982
.
Brian Hanvey (SDLP)
1,883
.
Thomas Benson (UUP)
1,623
Elected 17th Count
Jim Shannon (DUP)
1,415
Elected 18th Count
Ricky Johnston (PUP)
1,342
.
David McNarry (UUP)
1,073
.
Tommy Jeffers (DUP)
1,007
.
Wilbert Magill (Unionist)
951
.
Tom Hamilton (UUP)
615
.
Paddy McGreevy (SF)
614
.
Blakely McNally (UDP)
322
.
Thomas Beattie (C)
263
.
Ms Agnes Orr (Ind CC)
201
.
Andrew Frew (Green)
200
.
Jonathan Stewart (Lab)
181
.
Ms Sarah Mullins (NLP)
27
.



West Tyrone

Electorate: 59,081
Turnout: 46,913 (79.40%)
Total Valid Poll: 45,951
Quota: 6,565

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Oliver Gibson (DUP)
8,015
Elected 1st Count
Pat Docherty (SF)
7,027
Elected 1st Count
Joe Byrne (SDLP)
6,495
Elected 4th count
Barry McElduff (SF)
4,963
Elected 9th Count
Derek Hussey (UUP)
4,622
Elected 8th Count
Seamus Devine (SF)
3,676
.
Eugene McMenamin (SDLP)
3,548
Elected 9th Count
Alastair Patterson (UUP)
2,615
.
Pat McDonnell (SDLP)
1,772
.
Paddy McGowan (Ind Comm)
1,269
.
Ms Ann Gormley (Alliance)
1,011
.
Johnny McLaughlin (Soc)
570
.
Laurence O'Kane (CECC)
171
.
Tommy Owens (WP)
157
.
Robert Johnstone (NLP)
40
.



Mid Ulster

Electorate: 59,991
Turnout: 51,223 (85.38%)
Total Valid Poll: 49,798
Quota: 7,115

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
Rev William McCrea (DUP)
10,339
Elected 1st Count
Martin McGuinness (SF)
8,703
Elected 1st Count
Denis Haughey (SDLP)
6,410
Elected 6th Count
Francie Molloy (SF)
6,008
Elected 6th Count
John Kelly (SF)
5,594
Elected 6th Count
Patsy McGlone (SDLP)
4,666
.
Billy Armstrong (UUP)
4,498
Elected 6th Count
John Junkin (UUP)
2,440
.
Mrs Yvonne Boyle (Alliance)
497
.
Paul McLean (DUP)
307
.
Francie Donnelly (WP)
207
.
Harry Hutchinson (Soc)
91
.
Ms Mary Daly (NLP)
38
.



Upper Bann

Electorate: 70,852
Turnout: 50,399 (71.13%)
Total Valid Poll: 50,399
Quota: 7,201

Candidate (Party)
No. 1st
Preference Votes
Elected on Count
David Trimble (UUP)
12,338
Elected 1st Count
Ms Brid Rodgers (SDLP)
9,260
Elected 1st Count
Denis Watson (UUU)
4,855
Elected 14th Count
Ms Dara O'Hagan (SF)
4,301
Elected 10th Count
Mervyn Carrick (DUP)
4,177
Elected 13th Count
Ms Ruth Allen (DUP)
3,635
.
Francie Murray (SF)
2,915
.
Mel Byrne (SDLP)
2,687
.
Frank McQuaid (Alliance)
1,556
.
David Vance (UKU)
1,405
.
Sam Gardiner (UUP)
1,097
.
George Savage (UUP)
669
Elected 14th Count
Mark Neale (UUP)
455
.
Alan Evans (Lab)
439
.
Tom French (WP)
270
.
Pastor Kenny McClinton (UI)
207
.
Brian Silcock (Ind)
101
.
Jack Lyons (NLP)
32
.

Source: Various media reports


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