A charge against a man who gave his details to police in Irish has been withdrawn at Derry Magistrates Court.
Dermot Douglas, of Cardiffs Bridge Road, Finglas in Dublin, was charged with an offence under terrorism legislation after providing his name and address to police in Irish.
The 49-year-old was charged with failing to answer a question to the best of one’s knowledge on 6 March last.
Mr Douglas walked free from court after a solicitor for the Public Prosecution Service told District Judge Derry Magistrate’s Court the charges were to be withdrawn.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Douglas described the decision to charge him as a “farce” and “disgraceful.”
During the hearing, a group of supporters staged a protest, hanging posters on the courthouse railings stating “Irish is not a crime.”
The protest passed off peacefully.
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