ULSTER UNIONISTS:LEADER OF the Ulster Unionist Party Tom Elliott caused controversy at the Assembly election count in Omagh when he denounced Sinn Féin supporters as "scum", whose IRA counterparts were responsible for a campaign of murder.
The atmosphere at the count had been low-key until Mr Elliott rose to speak after the final results for the Fermanagh-South Tyrone constituency were announced.
There were numerous flags on display among the crowd of about 300 election workers, most of which were union flags, although some Sinn Féin supporters were holding Tricolours.
Mr Elliott remarked: “I see many people here with flags today, some of them with flags from a foreign nation.” Responding to the murmurs and rumblings from republican supporters, which were increasing in volume, he said: “I would expect nothing better from the scum of Sinn Féin.
“Their counterparts in the IRA have murdered the citizens of this province for years and decades and now all they want to do is shout down political representatives.
He continued: “That is how they want to run this province but I can tell you, as unionists, we will not allow them to do that.
“They tried to bomb and murder us out of Northern Ireland for generations and it didn’t succeed and they will not succeed now,” Mr Elliott said.
His constituency rival and outgoing Minister for Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin described the UUP leader’s comments as “pathetic” and said Mr Elliot lacked leadership capacity.
Mr Elliott was re-elected for Fermanagh-South Tyrone on the first count, as was Ms Gildernew. Seán Lynch and Phil Flanagan were elected for Sinn Féin on the sixth and final count, giving the party three seats. It.edged out Tommy Gallagher of the SDLP, who had served in the Assembly since 1998.
Outgoing Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster and running mate Lord Maurice Morrow retained their seats for the DUP.