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Court (District Electoral Area) facts for kids

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Court
Belfast City Council DEA Constituency
Court DEA Post 14.png
Court DEA marked on a map of Belfast City Council and its wards
Current constituency
Created 1985
Seats 6 (1985–1993)
5 (1993–2014)
6 (2014–)
Councillors
  •      Christina Black (SF)
  •      Claire Canavan (SF)
  •      Frank McCoubrey (DUP)
  •      Ron McDowell (TUV)
  •      Ian McLaughlin (DUP)
  •      Nicola Verner (DUP)
Belfast 1993 Court highlight
Court DEA (1993-2014) within Belfast

Court is one of the ten district electoral areas (DEA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the north and west of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ballygomartin, Clonard, Falls, Forth River, Shankill, and Woodvale. Court is split between the Belfast North and Belfast West constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

History

Court Wards
Wards of Court DEA in Belfast from 1993 to 2014 (see census table)

The DEA was created for the 1985 local elections. It initially contained six wards, three of which came from the abolished Area E, with the remainder from Area G. From the 1993 through 2011 local elections, it contained five wards, namely Crumlin, Glencairn, Highfield, Shankill and Woodvale, following the abolition of the Saint Anne's ward. For the 2014 local elections, the Crumlin ward was abolished, the Glencairn ward was replaced by Forth River ward and the Highfield ward was replaced by Ballygomartin ward. These four wards were joined by the Falls and Clonard wards, which had previously been part of the abolished Lower Falls DEA.

2011 census data

Map Ward Population
(2011 Census)		 Catholic Protestant Other No Religion Area Density NI Assembly UK Parliament Ref
1 Crumlin 4,582 11.3% 82.3% 0.6% 5.9% 0.83 km2 5,520/km2 Belfast North Belfast North
2 Glencairn 3,749 17.5% 75.5% 0.9% 6.1% 4.1 km2 914/km2 Belfast West Belfast West
3 Highfield 5,651 9.5% 82.6% 0.9% 7% 2.69 km2 2,101/km2 Belfast West Belfast West
4 Shankill 3,816 7.9% 84.5% 0.7% 6.9% 0.93 km2 4,103/km2 Belfast West Belfast West
5 Woodvale 4,088 6% 87% 0.6% 6.4% 0.57 km2 7,172/km2 Belfast North Belfast North
Court 21,886 10.3% 82.5% 0.7% 6.5% 9.12 km2 2,400/km2 Belfast North (2)
Belfast West (3)		 Belfast North (2)
Belfast West (3)

Councillors

Election Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)
2023 Frank McCoubrey
(DUP)/
(Independent)/
(UDP)		 Ian McLaughlin
(DUP)		 Nicola Verner
(DUP)		 Ron McDowell
(TUV)		 Tina Black
(Sinn Féin)		 Claire Canavan
(Sinn Féin)
June 2022 Co-Option Naomi Thompson
(DUP)		 Billy Hutchinson
(PUP)
2019 Brian Kingston
(DUP)
December 2018 Co-Option Jolene Bunting
(TUV)/
(Independent)
January 2018 Co-Option Mary McConville
(Sinn Féin)
February 2017 Defection Jim McVeigh
(Sinn Féin)
2014
2011 William Humphrey
(DUP)		 Hugh Smyth
(PUP)		 Naomi Thompson
(DUP)		 5 seats
1993-2014
2005 Elaine McMillen
(DUP)		 Diane Dodds
(DUP)
2001 Chris McGimpsey
(UUP)		 Eric Smyth
(DUP)
1997 Fred Cobain
(UUP)
1993 Joseph Coggle
(Independent Unionist)
1989 Herbert Ditty
(UUP)		 Elizabeth Seawright
(Protestant Unionist)
1985 Frederick Ashby
(DUP)		 George Seawright
(Protestant Unionist)

2023 election

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x PUP

2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV

2019–2023 Change: TUV gain from PUP

Court - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10 Count 11
Democratic Unionist Frank McCoubrey* 22.00% 2,645                    
Sinn Féin Tina Black* 15.15% 1,822                    
Democratic Unionist Nicola Verner* 14.83% 1,783                    
Sinn Féin Claire Canavan* 13.44% 1,616 1,616.70 1,697.65 1,698.65 1,698.74 1,712.04 1780.04        
Democratic Unionist Ian McLaughlin 8.26% 993 1,656.25 1,656.25 1,661.30 1,702.37 1,703.40 1,705.46 1,705.46 1,705.46 1,720.5  
Traditional Unionist Voice Ron McDowell 8.01% 963 1,090.40 1,090.50 1,093.50 1,098.73 1,098.73 1,101.7 1,101.7 1,104.73 1,130.85 1,156.85
Progressive Unionist Billy Hutchinson* 5.65% 679 789.25 789.35 790.35 795.63 795.63 801.07 803.07 803.07 853.92 906.27
People Before Profit Cailín McCaffery 3.39% 408 409.05 411.40 411.40 411.52 436.62 500.92 509.92 631.27 807.62  
Alliance Ally Haydock 2.74% 329 333.20 333.80 336.80 337.43 337.48 440.33 465.33 477.43    
style="background-color: Template:Irish Republican Socialist Party/meta/color" | Irish Republican Socialist Party Michael Kelly 3.32% 399 399.00 402.5 402.5 402.53 406.78 422.98 425.98      
Social Democratic and Labour Olcan McSparron 1.46% 175 176.05 177.55 178.55 178.61 189.66          
Green Party Northern Ireland Sara Haller 0.90% 108 110.45 110.8 111.8 111.92 117.97          
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Tony Walls 0.71% 85 85.00 85.85 85.9 85.93            
Independent Geoffrey Wilson 0.15% 18 19.05 19.10                
Electorate: 23,779   Valid: 12,023 (50.56%)   Spoilt: 252   Quota: 1,718   Turnout: 12,275 (51.62%)

2019 Election

2014: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x PUP, 1 x TUV

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x PUP

2014-2019 Change: DUP gain from TUV

Court - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10 Count 11
Democratic Unionist Frank McCoubrey* 19.70% 2,227                    
Democratic Unionist Brian Kingston* † 14.60% 1,648                    
Democratic Unionist Nicola Verner 9.90% 1,119 1,533.18 1,548.13 1,549.41 1,549.41 1,652.41          
Progressive Unionist Billy Hutchinson* 8.20% 929 1,016.48 1,018.08 1,023.35 1,024.35 1,077.13 1,077.55 1,090.55 1,096.55 1,264.73 1,622.32
Sinn Féin Claire Canavan* 12.80% 1,447 1,447 1,447 1,455 1,466 1,467 1,467 1,489 1,565 1,468 1,569
Sinn Féin Tina Black* 12.30% 1,396 1,396.27 1,396.28 1,405.29 1,458.29 1,458.29 1,458.29 1,473.29 1,549.29 1,552.56 1,560.56
People Before Profit Alliance Cailín McCaffery 6.10% 686 686.27 686.33 724.33 765.6 767.6 781.88 864.88 968.89 985.43 1,010.75
Ulster Unionist Dave Anderson 3.40% 385 411.19 411.89 418.9 420.9 481.45 498.67 529.22 534.22 668.93  
Independent Jolene Bunting* 3.10% 351 380.43 380.84 383.84 383.84 423.3 427.5 438.5 450.5    
Social Democratic and Labour Tiernan Fitzlarkin 2.60% 298 298.54 298.54 306.54 320.55 320.55 320.55 359.83      
Alliance Ciara Campbell 2.20% 253 254.35 254.88 296.38 302.38 305.65 305.65        
Traditional Unionist Voice Eric Smyth 2.30% 259 287.43 287.97 287.98 287.98            
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Joanne Lowry 1.50% 166 166 166.02 180.29              
Green Party in Northern Ireland Sinéad Magner 1.30% 147 148.08 148.13                
Electorate: 22,116   Valid: 11,310 (51.14%)   Spoilt: 218   Quota: 1,616   Turnout: 11,528 (52.13%)

2014 Election

This election was carried out under new ward boundaries, as a result of local government reform.

2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

2014: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x PUP, 1 x TUV

2011-2014 Changes: Sinn Féin (two seats) and TUV gain from DUP (two seats) and due to the addition of one seat, Independent joins DUP

Court - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10 Count 11 Count 12
Progressive Unionist Billy Hutchinson* 14.55% 1,674                      
Democratic Unionist Frank McCoubrey* 13.53% 1,557 1,557 1,569 1,569 1,570 1,769            
Democratic Unionist Brian Kingston* 9.86% 1,134 1,136 1,154 1,154 1,157 1,207 1,311.58 1,313.63 1,715.63      
Sinn Féin Mary McConville 12.17% 1,400 1,400 1,419 1,485 1,533 1,535 1,535 1,535.02 1,536.02 1,536.02 1,539.04 1,732.04
Sinn Féin Jim McVeigh* † 11.79% 1,357 1,357 1,362 1,398 1,410 1,411 1,411 1,411.01 1,412.01 1,412.3 1,413.32 1,547.33
Traditional Unionist Voice Jolene Bunting ‡ 7.29% 839 842 852 854 856 865 865.63 866.51 888.87 905.88 1,123.89 1,135.16
Ulster Unionist Bill Manwaring 5.66% 651 653 674 675 677 685 688.78 689.85 754.69 785.74 1,098.7 1,117.8
Social Democratic and Labour Colin Keenan* 4.89% 563 566 635 697 809 809 809 809.04 812.67 813.75 818.31  
Progressive Unionist Billy Mawhinney 5.28% 607 610 621 621 625 629 631.52 643.17 713.41 734.47    
Democratic Unionist Nicola Verner 4.49% 516 516 519 519 521 609 621.6 622.26        
Democratic Unionist Naomi Thompson* 3.17% 365 366 366 368 369              
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) John Lowry 2.57% 296 297 319 334                
style="background-color: Template:Republican Network for Unity/meta/color" | Republican Network for Unity Tommy Doherty 2.45% 282 282 284                  
Alliance Sheila Gallagher 1.12% 129 130                    
NI21 Stuart Hunter 1.02% 117 117                    
Independent Willie Faulkner 0.16% 18                      
Electorate: 20,881   Valid: 11,505 (55.10%)   Spoilt: 304   Quota: 1,644   Turnout: 11,809 (56.55%)

2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

2005-2011 Change: No change

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5
Democratic Unionist William Humphrey* 40.05% 2,643        
Democratic Unionist Brian Kingston 20.77% 1,371        
Democratic Unionist Naomi Thompson 3.59% 237 1,153.8      
Independent Frank McCoubrey* 11.42% 754 937.6 1,006.48 1,015.36 1,131.36
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 9.70% 640 782.2 846.04 862.36 939.38
Ulster Unionist Bobby McConnell 5.98% 395 585.2 698.32 717.88 805.64
Independent Raymond McCord 3.02% 199 263.8 281.72 285.98  
Sinn Féin Karol McKee 2.79% 184 184.6 184.6 184.6  
Alliance Mark Long 1.18% 78 103.8 108.56 109.76  
Social Democratic and Labour Conor McNeill 1.50% 99 101.4 102.24 102.54  
Electorate: 13,455   Valid: 6,600 (49.05%)   Spoilt: 170   Quota: 1,101   Turnout: 6,770 (50.32%)

2005 Election

2001: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5
Democratic Unionist Diane Dodds 55.73% 4,176        
Democratic Unionist William Humphrey 9.06% 679 2,320.52      
Democratic Unionist Elaine McMillen* 2.95% 221 730.07 1,577.39    
Independent Frank McCoubrey* 10.60% 794 1,107.11 1,186.23 1,244.66 1,312.41
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 10.66% 799 1,003.48 1,043.96 1,065.41 1,174.86
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey* 7.67% 575 777.35 860.61 903.08 1,022.96
Sinn Féin Francis Hamilton 3.32% 249 266.04 267.42    
Electorate: 13,582   Valid: 7,493 (55.17%)   Spoilt: 233   Quota: 1,249   Turnout: 7,726 (56.88%)

2001 Election

1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x UDP

2001: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent

1997-2001 Change: DUP gain from UUP, UDP becomes Independent

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5
Democratic Unionist Eric Smyth* 26.71% 2,605        
Independent Frank McCoubrey* 17.76% 1,732        
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey* 15.66% 1,527 1,612.8 1,661.97    
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 13.70% 1,336 1,450.66 1,478.05 1,510.05 1,774.05
Democratic Unionist Elaine McMillen 7.38% 720 1,401.33 1,411.89 1,438.85 1,639.85
Progressive Unionist William Smith 8.34% 813 861.75 875.75 893.67 991.67
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 7.40% 722 764.51 787.9 812.78  
Sinn Féin Mick Conlon 2.76% 269 269.39      
style="background-color: Template:Third Way (UK organisation)/meta/color" | Third Way (UK organisation) David Kerr 0.29% 28 31.9      
Electorate: 15,674   Valid: 9,752 (62.22%)   Spoilt: 333   Quota: 1,626   Turnout: 10,085 (64.34%)

1997 Election

1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent Unionist

1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UDP

1993-1997 Change: UDP gain from Independent Unionist

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 32.83% 3,070              
Democratic Unionist Eric Smyth* 16.82% 1,573              
Ulster Democratic Party Frank McCoubrey 12.83% 1,200 1,545.28 1,552.32 1,553.48 1,581.48      
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 11.21% 1,048 1,240.92 1,248.52 1,249.78 1,297.29 1,326.32 1,369.48 1,699.48
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey* 8.56% 800 1,039.2 1,053.28 1,054.7 1,088.81 1,121.22 1,184.77 1,362.25
Independent Unionist Joseph Coggle* 4.35% 407 755.92 763.04 764.22 838.38 868.22 936.49 1,084.08
Ulster Unionist Glenn Bradley 5.49% 513 617 627.6 628.27 662.05 679.85 839.12  
Ulster Unionist Denis Robinson 2.53% 237 349.84 350.84 351.62 372.7 405.17    
style="background-color: Template:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition/meta/color" | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition Linda Walker 1.60% 150 208.76 308.52 309.02 325.22      
Democratic Unionist Margaret Ferris 2.22% 208 291.72 296.76 303.48        
Alliance John Roberts 1.54% 144 165.32            
Electorate: 17,089   Valid: 9,350 (54.71%)   Spoilt: 243   Quota: 1,559   Turnout: 9,593 (56.14%)

1993 Election

1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist

1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Independent Unionist

1989-1993 Change: Protestant Unionist loss due to the reduction of one seat

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7
Democratic Unionist Eric Smyth* 24.98% 2,385            
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 17.53% 1,674            
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 16.85% 1,609            
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 15.42% 1,472 1,672.2          
Independent Unionist Joseph Coggle* 8.29% 792 1,010.4 1,101.4 1,133.55 1,158.34 1,164.77 1,569.37
Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty* 5.99% 572 695.9 792.7 824.4 859.25 861.65 1,068.26
Progressive Unionist Elizabeth Seawright* 5.84% 558 772.2 819.65 832.3 850.32 855.74  
Alliance Irene Galway 3.89% 371 387.1          
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Peter Cullen 1.21% 116 119.5          
Electorate: 18,813   Valid: 9,549 (50.76%)   Spoilt: 332   Quota: 1,592   Turnout: 9,881 (52.52%)

1989 Election

1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist

1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist

1985-1989 Change: No change

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 24.25% 2,533            
Protestant Unionist Elizabeth Seawright 13.48% 1,408 1,768.36          
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 11.20% 1,170 1,253.16 1,289.54 1,294.54 1,334.82 1,468.84 1,669.84
Democratic Unionist Eric Smyth 9.63% 1,006 1,158.04 1,197.48 1,199.48 1,220.08 1,276.5 1,559.5
Independent Unionist Joseph Coggle* 9.12% 953 1,134.02 1,212.9 1,217.9 1,253.74 1,349.08 1,439.04
Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty* 8.59% 897 962.52 1,002.98 1,005.32 1,030.92 1,208.88 1,309.8
Independent William Smith 6.87% 717 809.4 847.82 849.82 932.84 979.16 1,008.36
Democratic Unionist Frederick Ashby* 6.17% 644 673.82 688.1 688.1 703.78 762.72  
Independent Unionist Alfie Ferguson 4.87% 509 562.34 583.08 583.08 625.5    
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Peter Cullen 3.51% 367 374.98 379.06 467.06      
Sinn Féin Joe Austin 2.30% 240 240.42 240.76        
Electorate: 21,173   Valid: 10,444 (49.33%)   Spoilt: 381   Quota: 1,493   Turnout: 10,825 (51.13%)

1985 Election

1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist

Court - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9
Protestant Unionist George Seawright* 24.39% 2,970                
Progressive Unionist Hugh Smyth* 14.46% 1,761                
Democratic Unionist Frederick Ashby* 11.66% 1,420 1,591.36 1,593.78 1,681.1 1,682.1 1,732.92 2,186.92    
Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty 9.83% 1,197 1,288.98 1,296.98 1,312.28 1,313.28 1,618.2 1,695.52 1,781.52  
Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain 6.60% 804 846 847 856.1 858.1 1,028.28 1,101.26 1,216.26 1,457.46
Independent Unionist Joseph Coggle* 7.34% 894 1,134.66 1,139.08 1,144.76 1,146.76 1,201.2 1,266.44 1,336.44 1,471.32
Ulster Democratic Party Samuel Doyle 4.40% 536 837.56 842.98 859.22 860.22 946.5 1,004.12 1,050.12 1,097.32
Alliance William Dukelow 5.14% 626 642.38 730.8 732.64 874.64 899.16 907 914  
Democratic Unionist William Baxter 4.70% 572 706.4 708.82 800.34 800.34 826.64      
Ulster Unionist James Sands 5.13% 624 750 751 773.24 773.24        
Sinn Féin Harry Fitzsimmons 3.55% 432 432.42 463.42 463.42          
Democratic Unionist Robert Morrow 1.49% 182 260.96 261.38            
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Peter Cullen 1.29% 157 161.62              
Electorate: 22,375   Valid: 12,175 (54.41%)   Spoilt: 372   Quota: 1,740   Turnout: 12,547 (56.08%)
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