Sinn Fein secures historic victory in Northern Ireland election

Sinn Fein secured a historic victory on Saturday after taking control of the Northern Ireland Assembly following momentous local elections.

The Irish republican party secured a majority of 27 seats in Stormont, becoming the first nationalist party to take control of the assembly in its century of existence. Michelle O’Neil, Sinn Fein’s vice president, will take the position of first minister.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which had been the largest party since 2007, was pushed into second place with 25 seats, with the non-aligned Alliance Party in third place with 17 seats and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) with nine seats.