Derry City and Strabane aware of discrepancy in counting for election results as Alliance challenge

The Alliance Party is unhappy with the count for Waterside DEA

Derry City and Strabane District Council said it is aware of a discrepancy in the counting for the recent local elections.

The Alliance party have launched a legal challenge to the results and the council admits it has been liasing with the NI Electoral Office over a discrepancy in relation to the latter stages of the Count in the Waterside DEA.

“Council has become aware that an Election Petition has been lodged on 5 June and at this stage, is not aware of the specific details,” a spokesperson said.

“Council will continue to work with the NI Electoral Office in relation to this issue.”

It is understood the Alliance election challenge focuses on stage six of the Waterside DEA count last month.

At that point in the count two DUP councillors were elected leaving two SDLP and one Alliance candidate - Philip McKinney.

Mr McKinney had been a sitting councillor but was declared eliminated, losing by 49.16votes.

It’s thought the Alliance party believes a further count should have taken place to allow for the surplus of the two elected DUP councillors to be distributed.

It is understood the court challenge was submitted on Monday.

“An election petition has been lodged in the High Court in Belfast by Alliance, regarding the election count for Waterside DEA,” the party said in a statement.

“Since the matter is now in the hands of the court, it would not appropriate to comment any further.”

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said it is aware of a discrepancy in relation to the latter stages of the Count in the Waterside DEA and has been liaising with the NI Electoral Office and the relevant parties with regard to this matter.

“Council has become aware that an Election Petition has been lodged on 5 June and at this stage, is not aware of the specific details,” they said.

“Council will continue to work with the NI Electoral Office in relation to this issue.”

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