Three men arrested three years ago over an alleged IRA spying ring at Stormont have had the charges against them dropped.
The acquittal was announced during a surprise and unlisted court hearing.
Police LandRovers parked outside Stormont in October 2002
Denis Donaldson (53), Sinn Féin's head of administration at Stormont; Ciarán Kearney (32), Commedagh Drive; and William Mackessy (45), a former Stormont porter, of Wolfend Way, Ligoniel, were arrested in October 2002.
The three were arrested following a massive police raid on Sinn Fein's offices in Parliament Buildings. The ensuing political row resulted in the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive.
They faced seven charges between them of possessing and collecting information useful to terrorists.
In Belfast Crown Court this morning, Mr Justice Hart was told that the Director of the Public Prosecution Services was offering no further evidence in their case.
"The Director has concluded that having regard to the materials placed before him and his duties as a public authority under the Human Rights Act 1998 that the prosecution for the offences in relation to the accused are no longer in the public interest," Gordon Kerr QC, for the prosecution, added.
Mr Justice Hart said that the proper course of action was to return verdicts of not guilty and told the men that they were "free to go".
In February last year charges against them of possessing documents of a secret, confidential or restricted nature originating from the Northern Ireland Office were withdrawn.
Mr Donaldson claimed outside the court the "charges should never have been brought. It was political policing and political charges and the fact that we were acquitted today proves that".
Mr Mackessy said he felt "disgusted with the British government for bringing charges that should never have been brought."
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness welcomed today's ruling. "We said very clearly at the time of that event that this case would fall apart," the Mid Ulster MP said. "There was no evidence whatsoever to sustain it and we have been proven correct.
"This is a shameful episode, a damning indictment of the fact that the spirit of the RUC Special Branch is effectively alive and well within the PSNI. There never was a spy ring operating at Stormont."
DUP Policing Board member Ian Paisley jnr said the decision to drop the charges was deeply disturbing. The North Antrim MLA also claimed the decision was a sop to Sinn Féin.
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said it noted and understood the reasons given by the Public Prosecution Service for the withdrawal of charges against the three men.