Publication date:
This week there were a number of newspaper articles and broadcasts about damage which occurred at St Donard’s Church in East Belfast. The Police Service for Northern Ireland reported three young persons to the Public Prosecution Service.
The Public Prosecution Service has directed no prosecution of the three young persons because the test for prosecution was not met. There was insufficient evidence to prosecute them.
Because of the concerns of the Rev Charles McCartney, which the media reported, the Director of Public Prosecutions asked that this decision be reviewed by a senior member of his Service. This has now been completed.
It has been concluded that the original decision was correct. In the absence of new evidence there will not be a prosecution of the three young persons.
The member of the Public Prosecution Service who carried out the review met with the Rev McCartney on 1 November to explain the basis upon which the original decision had been taken. The Rev McCartney accepted that the decision was correct.