As predicted, west Belfast ended the election night as it began - with a Sinn Féin MP.

SINN Féin enjoyed a comfortable win in South Down thanks to a 32 per cent vote share for Chris Hazzard, but both the incumbent MP and former seat holders the SDLP saw their overall support shrink in the face of Alliance growth.

IN some constituencies a 6,499 majority would be comfortable, but in Lagan Valley terms, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson barely squeaked home in the early hours of this morning.

Sitting DUP MP Paul Girvan held off a strong challenge from the UUP to reclaim his seat in South Antrim.

THE DUP's Gavin Robinson said his party's message of "getting Northern Ireland moving again has resonated" as he retained his seat in East Belfast.

SINN Féin’s Órfhlaith Begley comfortably secured her seat in West Tyrone in the early hours of today, but the count at Omagh Leisure Centre saw the Alliance Party break new ground west of the Bann.

A DUP win was never in any doubt for Strangford - but election night also saw a major surge in the Alliance party's fortunes.

IF one was compiling a thesaurus entry for the word `certainty', they would add expressions and phrases including foregone conclusion, reality, surety and inevitable result.

A gang armed with a machete and claw hammer robbed a post office in Co Tyrone.

DEIRDRE McShane's "response to life's challenges was to expand her heart and soul", mourners at the funeral of the community midwife were told.

Kennedy appeared alongside co-defendant Mo Robinson, who faced the court via video-link from Belmarsh jail.

Three men, including one in his seventies, have been charged following drug raids in Belfast.

BREXIT, back stops, toxic election campaigns, industrial action in health and education and no local administration for almost three full years – it would be easy to be a little gloomy.

UNDER-THREAT red squirrels are benefitting from an unlikely ally - the predatory pine marten, according to new research.

SINN Féin has criticised anti-abortion campaigners who claim the party supports "abortion for any reason, right up to the moment of birth".

SCHOOLS are to be allowed to expand again as they brace themselves for another bumper transfer year.

ONE woman was tasered and another assaulted during a "disturbing" late night burglary at a flat in south Belfast.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Co Down pensioner at his Bangor home last month have made a fresh appeal for information.

SCIENTISTS have discovered the functions of the area of the brain in which Alzheimer's disease begins - offering hope for the development of future treatments.

Last minute talks to prevent a day of strike action across the health service could take place as early as the start of next week.