Six men and a woman are appearing on charges associated with a loyalist parade in Portadown on July 27th at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrates' Court.
A DPP lawyer told the Magistrate, Mr Philip Matier, this was the first case of its type to be decided under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. The charges before the court, he said, accused the defendants of aiding and abetting other persons to parade, prior notice of the intended parade not having been given to the RUC as required by law.
The six are Mr Mark Brady (30), of Corcrain Drive; Mr William Buckley (18), Westland Road; Mr Christopher Hodgen (30), Hartfield Square; Mr Stuart Jameson (45), Chasewood Close; Mr Rowland Liggett (34), Baltylum Park; Mr Stephen McClure (37), Corcrain Drive, and Ms Rebecca Ann Robb (38), Festival Road, all Portadown.
The hearing continues today.