Parties dispute council positions

The SDLP and Sinn Fein are in dispute over council posts

A row has broken out on Magherafelt council between the SDLP and Sinn Fein.

It follows the council's annual general meeting on Wednesday where Sinn Fein claimed 30 out of the 59 posts.

Sinn Fein said it was entitled to the positions as it holds eight of the 16 council seats, however, the SDLP claimed this stance was unfair.

The SDLP has said it plans to lodge a complaint with the British and Irish governments over what it sees as a "mis-use of the d'Hondt system".

Sinn Fein councillor Sean Kerr said seat allocation should reflect the respective political strengths of the parties.

However, SDLP councillors Kate Lagan and Jim Campbell argued such a move "created a mockery of power-sharing".

The SDLP was elected to five posts on the council.

Tuesday's meeting of the council was the first since it was elected two weeks ago.