Robinson and Empey’s futures hang in balance

THE leaders of Northern Ireland’s two main unionist parties were last night fighting for their political lives after the DUP’s Peter Robinson and the Ulster Unionists’ Reg Empey suffered humiliating defeats.

Empey signalled he will consider his future with party officials over the weekend, while the Democratic Unionists face questions over whether they will stick with their scandal-hit leader.

Meanwhile, there was a dramatic win for Sinn Féin who held the border constituency of Fermanagh -South Tyrone by only four votes, helping the party emerge with the largest share of support in Northern Ireland, which possibly puts it on course to top the poll in next year’s Assembly election.