The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have held their seat in the Waterside DEA after a recount.
The recount was initiated after the Alliance Party lodged a complaint with the High Court over the result of the local election in May 2023.
Martin Reilly got the last seat on Derry City and Strabane District Council in the local election, by a margin of 49 votes. Alliance’s Philip McKinney, therefore, lost out on the seat.
The recount on Wednesday found the result was closer, with 10 votes between the two, but the SDLP still held onto the seat.
The leader of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood, confirmed the result on his Twitter.
Delighted that we have confirmation, subject to a formal court declaration, that @martinhello will remain an SDLP councillor for the Waterside.
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 9, 2023
Martin works for and is supported by people across our community in the long tradition of our party. The right result today.
Councillor Martin Reilly also thanked those who had been in touch on his Twitter profile.
I want to thank everyone who’s been in touch following the Court appointed continuation of the Waterside DEA election count from the #LG23 vote on 18th May.
— martin reilly (@martinhello) August 9, 2023
At the end of stage 7, I remain ahead and the Council and the Electoral Office will report that to the Court next week.
The Alliance Party released a statement following the confirmation.
Congratulations to Martin Reilly on confirmation of his win in Waterside.
— Alliance Party (@allianceparty) August 9, 2023
We are happy this episode has been brought to a conclusion & whilst the result is not the one we’d hoped for, the electorate can now have confidence proper process was followed on this occasion.
