NI election results 2022 LIVE updates as Northern Ireland waits to see who will win Assembly poll

Michelle O’Neill re-elected on first count

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill has been re-elected on the first count in Mid-Ulster.

Ms O’Neill was surrounded by party colleagues and supporters as the result was announced in the Magherafelt count centre.

She received 10,845 first preference votes. The result was greeted by large cheers in the count centre.

Speaking to reporters shortly before her election was announced, Ms O’Neill said she was feeling “very positive”.

She said she was “very grateful” to be with the people of Mid-Ulster.

Asked about the possibility of her taking the first minister role, she said: “It is very early to say, let’s get all the votes counted.

“I feel very positive. We felt a very positive campaign.”

She said that Sinn Fein wanted to “together work in partnership with others”.

“That is the only way we will achieve much much more for people here, whether in terms of the cost-of-living crisis or trying to fix our health service”.