Catholics Victorious In Local Elections

Catholics won key seats from Northern Ireland’s Protestant majority in local elections, results showed Thursday, in an outcome sure to influence peace negotiations in the British-ruled province.

The IRA-allied Sinn Fein party continued its surge in popularity versus the Social Democratic and Labor Party, its moderate rival for votes within Northern Ireland’s growing Catholic community.

Both Protestants and the Social Democratic and Labor Party complained that Sinn Fein had unfair advantages in Wednesday’s vote and pledged to contest the results.

The vote confirmed some stark demographics: a shrinking pro-British Protestant majority, divided but uncompromising, and a growing Catholic minority that is determined to unite with the rest of Ireland.