Court (District Electoral Area)

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.

Court
Belfast City Council DEA constituency
Court DEA marked on a map of Belfast City Council and its wards
Current constituency
Created1985
Seats6 (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)

History
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 District Electoral Area.

2011 census data
MapWardPopulation
(2011 Census)		CatholicProtestantOtherNo ReligionAreaDensityNI AssemblyUK ParliamentRef
1Crumlin4,58211.3%82.3%0.6%5.9%0.83 km25,520/km2Belfast NorthBelfast North[1]
2Glencairn3,74917.5%75.5%0.9%6.1%4.1 km2914/km2Belfast WestBelfast West[2]
3Highfield5,6519.5%82.6%0.9%7%2.69 km22,101/km2Belfast WestBelfast West[3]
4Shankill3,8167.9%84.5%0.7%6.9%0.93 km24,103/km2Belfast WestBelfast West[4]
5Woodvale4,0886%87%0.6%6.4%0.57 km27,172/km2Belfast NorthBelfast North[5]
Court21,88610.3%82.5%0.7%6.5%9.12 km22,400/km2Belfast 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[6]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567891011
DUP Frank McCoubrey* 22.00% 2,645                    
Sinn Féin Tina Black* 15.15% 1,822                    
DUP 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        
DUP 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  
TUV 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
PUP 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    
Irish Republican Socialist Michael Kelly 3.32% 399 399.00 402.5 402.5 402.53 406.78 422.98 425.98      
SDLP Olcan McSparron 1.46% 175 176.05 177.55 178.55 178.61 189.66          
Green (NI) Sara Haller 0.90% 108 110.45 110.8 111.8 111.92 117.97          
Workers' Party 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[7]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1234567891011
    DUP Frank McCoubrey* 19.70% 2,227                    
    DUP Brian Kingston* † 14.60% 1,648                    
    DUP Nicola Verner 9.90% 1,119 1,533.18 1,548.13 1,549.41 1,549.41 1,652.41          
    PUP 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 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    
    SDLP 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        
    TUV Eric Smyth 2.30% 259 287.43 287.97 287.98 287.98            
    Workers' Party Joanne Lowry 1.50% 166 166 166.02 180.29              
    Green (NI) 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[8]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789101112
      PUP Billy Hutchinson* 14.55% 1,674                      
      DUP Frank McCoubrey* 13.53% 1,557 1,557 1,569 1,569 1,570 1,769            
      DUP 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
      TUV 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
      SDLP Colin Keenan* 4.89% 563 566 635 697 809 809 809 809.04 812.67 813.75 818.31  
      PUP Billy Mawhinney 5.28% 607 610 621 621 625 629 631.52 643.17 713.41 734.47    
      DUP Nicola Verner 4.49% 516 516 519 519 521 609 621.6 622.26        
      DUP Naomi Thompson* 3.17% 365 366 366 368 369              
      Workers' Party John Lowry 2.57% 296 297 319 334                
      Republican Network 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[9]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345
        DUP William Humphrey* 40.05% 2,643        
        DUP Brian Kingston 20.77% 1,371        
        DUP 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
        PUP 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  
        SDLP 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[10]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345
          DUP Diane Dodds 55.73% 4,176        
          DUP William Humphrey 9.06% 679 2,320.52      
          DUP 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
          PUP 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[11]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345
            DUP 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    
            PUP Hugh Smyth* 13.70% 1,336 1,450.66 1,478.05 1,510.05 1,774.05
            DUP Elaine McMillen 7.38% 720 1,401.33 1,411.89 1,438.85 1,639.85
            PUP 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      
            National Liberal Party 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[12]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              PUP Hugh Smyth* 32.83% 3,070              
              DUP Eric Smyth* 16.82% 1,573              
              Ulster Democratic 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
              Ind. 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    
              NI Women's Coalition Linda Walker 1.60% 150 208.76 308.52 309.02 325.22      
              DUP 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[13]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                DUP Eric Smyth* 24.98% 2,385            
                Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 17.53% 1,674            
                PUP Hugh Smyth* 16.85% 1,609            
                Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey 15.42% 1,472 1,672.2          
                Ind. 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
                PUP Elizabeth Seawright* 5.84% 558 772.2 819.65 832.3 850.32 855.74  
                Alliance Irene Galway 3.89% 371 387.1          
                Workers' Party 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[14]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234567
                  PUP 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
                  DUP Eric Smyth 9.63% 1,006 1,158.04 1,197.48 1,199.48 1,220.08 1,276.5 1,559.5
                  Ind. 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
                  DUP Frederick Ashby* 6.17% 644 673.82 688.1 688.1 703.78 762.72  
                  Ind. Unionist Alfie Ferguson 4.87% 509 562.34 583.08 583.08 625.5    
                  Workers' Party 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[15]
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                    123456789
                    Protestant Unionist George Seawright* 24.39% 2,970                
                    PUP Hugh Smyth* 14.46% 1,761                
                    DUP 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
                    Ind. 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 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  
                    DUP 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          
                    DUP Robert Morrow 1.49% 182 260.96 261.38            
                    Workers' Party 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%)  

                      See also

                      Elections

                      References
                      1. "Ward Information for Crumlin (Belfast) ward 95GG19". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
                      2. "Ward Information for Glencairn ward 95GG26". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
                      3. "Ward Information for Highfield ward 95GG28". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
                      4. "Ward Information for Shankill ward 95GG40". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
                      5. "Ward Information for Woodvale ward 95GG51". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
                      6. "Northern Ireland council election: List of all the candidates in the May 2023 poll". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
                      7. "Local Council Elections 2019 - Results by Stage". 2 May 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
                      8. "Local Council Elections 2014 - Results by Stage". 22 May 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
                      9. "Court Result Sheet" (PDF). EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      10. "Local Government Results 2005". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      11. "Local Government Results 2001". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      12. "Local Government Results 1997". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      13. "Local Government Results 1993". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      14. "Local Government Results 1989". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
                      15. "Local Government Results 1985". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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