Appeals are being prepared today for three Belfast men jailed after a nightclub brawl while in France for the Battle of the Somme Commemorations.
They were sentenced to six months by a judge in Lille where they claimed they had defended themselves from supporters of French right wing Jean-Marie le Pen.
Another two men were freed.
Belfast City Councillor Billy Hutchinson who was also in France for the commemorations said today: "These men were in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It is an absolute nightmare, a million to one chance anything like this could happen."
One of the jailed men needed stitches for an injury to his face. Another had his nose broken.
The five were with a party from the Somme Association who travelled to France last week.Mr Hutchinson, a member of the Progressive Unionist Party said: "They were accused of being English football hooligans, and because of the anti-British and anti-American feelings over the war in Iraq, they found themselves in a situation not of their making.
"They were completely innocent. They managed to calm the situation inside the club, but when they left the French started attacking them again."
PA