Sinn Féin is largest party in the North after marathon council election count

(from left) Sinn Fein’s Ryan Murphy, JJ Magee, Nichola Bradley, and Tomas O Neill hold up four fingers after all four won seats in Oldpark at Belfast City Hall during the Northern Ireland council elections (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Féin has emerged as the largest party in local government in Northern Ireland for the first time after making large gains in the council elections.

Vice president Michelle O’Neill described her party’s victory as “momentous” and said the result sent a message that Stormont should return.