General Election 2024: Cathal Mallaghan of Sinn Féin wins Mid Ulster seat

Sinn Féin's Cathal Mallaghan has won the Mid Ulster constituency in the first result of the night in Magherafelt.

Mallaghan has retained the seat continually held by his party colleague Francie Molloy since 2013.

Mr Mallaghan won the seat comfortably clinching 24,081 votes compared to Keith Buchanan of DUP who came in second with 9,162 votes.

SDLP's Denise Johnston polled 3,722 votes, Glenn Moore (TUV) received 2,978 votes and Jay Basra (UUP) received 2,269 votes.

Alliance's Padraic Farrell polled 2.001 votes while Aontú's Alixandra Halliday received 1,047 votes.

Independent candidate John Kelly received 181 votes.

Overall, the voter turnout in the Mid Ulster constituency was 61.74%.

Out of an eligible electorate of 74,000, a total of 45,691 people turned out to vote in the General Election.

Counting continues this evening in Meadowbank Sports Arena with results from East Derry and Foyle expected in the coming hours.