BREAKING: Waterside election result in doubt
Alliance challenging Waterside result in local government elections in High Court
The outcome of the local government election count in Derry City and Strabane District Council's Waterside District Electoral Area (DEA) may not stand.
The Alliance Party has confirmed to Derry Now it has lodged an Election Petition today in the High Court in Belfast.
In a statement, the party which lost two seats here in the recent local elections, said: "An Election Petition was lodged today in the High Court in Belfast by the Alliance Party regarding the 19 May election count for Waterside DEA.
"Since the matter is now in the hands of court matter, it’s not appropriate for the Alliance Party to make further public comment."
Derry Now understands a significant number of votes were not counted in the DEA, which may have affected the declared outcome.
The seven candidates elected in Waterside DEA were: Caitlin Deeney (Sinn Féin) and Darren Guy (UUP) after first preference and Christopher Jackson (Sinn Féin), Niree McMorris (DUP), Chelsea Cooke (DUP), Sean Mooney (SDLP) and Martin Reilly (SDLP).
Councillor Philip McKinney of the Alliance Party was eliminated after the 6th Count.
The Electoral Office NI, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the SDLP were all asked for comment.