DUP man leaves rostrum before SF members speak

Fermanagh-South Tyrone: Shortly before lunchtime the six MLAs for Fermanagh-South Tyrone took to the rostrum in the coffee shop…

Fermanagh-South Tyrone: Shortly before lunchtime the six MLAs for Fermanagh-South Tyrone took to the rostrum in the coffee shop of Omagh's leisure centre to thank their campaign workers and families.

The two women elected, Ms Arlene Foster of the Ulster Unionist Party and Ms Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin, both said they were looking forward to seeing their children again after weeks campaigning.

The one DUP candidate elected, Mr Maurice Morrow, left the stage, however, before either Ms Gildernew or her party colleague, Mr Thomas O'Reilly, spoke.

He later told The Irish Times he had done so because no member of the DUP would speak from the same platform as a party that had "its own private army at its back".

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"We will not be talking to Sinn Féin until they have crossed the Rubicon and given up all violence. It is quite clear from the results across Northern Ireland that the majority of unionists feel the same. This Belfast Agreement has been a one-sided agreement. We are simply saying we want a fair one that all the people can sign up to."

Ms Gildernew said she was confident Sinn Féin could work with the DUP. "We already are working with them in the Assembly and councils all over Northern Ireland."

The six MLAs for Fermanagh-South Tyrone are Mr Thomas Elliot and Ms Arlene Foster of the UUP; Mr Thomas Gallagher of the SDLP; Ms Michelle Gildernew and Mr Thomas O'Reilly of Sinn Féin and Mr Maurice Morrow of the DUP.

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland is Social Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times