He was succeeded by the current Lord Mayor David Alderdice, the brother of the former Alliance Party leader and current presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lord Alderdice.

BBC: News | UK Politics | Rival NI parties to share top jobs

Peter Robinson, the scandal-hit first minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionists, lost his East Belfast seat to the nonsectarian Alliance Party.

ECONOMIST: Election results

Last September, the Alliance Party voted in support of legislation to allow gay civil marriage in Northern Ireland.

BBC: Ford compares gay marriage debate to civil rights campaign

The Alliance Party's Stephen Farry said the figures for the destruction of dogs were much higher in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK. He added that dog ownership should be seen as a privilege rather than a right.

BBC: Dogs (Amendment) Bill