Five people charging with taking part in an illegal parade in Co Armagh earlier this year have had the charges against them withdrawn.
Four men and a woman were charged with taking part in an illegal parade and wearing paramilitary style clothing, understood to have taken place on April 15 and 16.
Earlier today Craigavon Magistrates’ Court heard that while charges against the five are being withdrawn “the case is to proceed by way of report”.
The five defendants are: Martin Stephen Conlon (48), Tarry Drive in Lurgan; Christopher Martin Hamill (27), Lurgan Tarry, Lurgan; Audrey Sharpe (49), Drumbeg, Tullygally; Declan McCrory (47), Aghaboy Road, Omagh and Sean Pearson (24), Culmore Park, also in Omagh.
They are all jointly charged with two counts of taking part in an un-notified public procession on April 15 and 16 this year and on two further charges of wearing items of clothing, namely paramilitary style uniforms, “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000,” on the same dates.
District Judge Bernie Kelly commended the PPS on an “excellent” decision.
