Credit must go to the people of West Belfast

FERGUS FINLAY’S analysis of the recent Northern election results (Irish Examiner, March 13), particularly that achieved by Sinn Féin in the West Belfast constituency, was amusing.

The former Irish Labour Party spin-doctor took us on a trip down memory lane to the days of the Shankill butchers and bombers before fast forwarding to the result which leaves those living on the Shankill being represented by five Sinn Féin MLAs and one SDLP.

He wrote of what an irony it would have been had Alex Attwood of the SDLP been squeezed out for the last seat by the DUP candidate, who, incidentally, was also a sitting MLA, having previously been elected by the Protestant people of the Shankill. With Sinn Féin’s near miraculous coup, it would also have dearly loved to dislodge Mr Attwood from his seat.