Belfast solicitor John Finucane has failed in his bid to be elected as Sinn Féin’s MP for North Belfast.

The partner at Finucane Toner Solicitors and son of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane won 19,159 votes (41.7 per cent), behind the DUP’s Nigel Dodds with 21,240 votes (46.2 per cent).

The high-profile contest drew attention from across the Northern Ireland legal profession as speculation grew that solicitor Mr Finucane could unseat the incumbent MP, barrister Mr Dodds.

Speaking after the declaration, Mr Finucane said: “I am exceptionally proud to have returned the biggest mandate any republican has ever returned in north Belfast.”

Mr Dodds said the DUP had “made history” in the seat, and added: “This election was fought in the face of terrible terrorist atrocities across the UK and in this next parliament the DUP will play a very important role in terms of the great challenges that this country faces.”