Nine acquitted in Raytheon trial

The women were part of a group that protested at the Buncrana Road offices in January 2009.

However, James King, aged 67 and of Hatmore Park in the city, was found guilty of criminal damage and intent to cause criminal damage.

44-year-old Kieran Gallagher of Dunseverick Park, was found guilty of impersonating a police officer.

The jury at Belfast Crown Court deliberated for an hour before reaching its decision.

The acquitted women were 35-year-old Julia Torrojo from Glenside Gardens, Roisin Barton, 61, from Brandywell Avenue, 54-year-old Goretti Horgan from Westland avenue, Elizabeth Doherty, aged 52 from Little Diamond, 65-year-old Diana King from Hatmore, Helen Reynolds aged 61 from Fahan Street and 42-year-old Roisin Bryce from Ardnamoyle Park.

Mr Gallagher was given a 12-month conditional discharge, and Mr King was fined 75 with an 80 compensation order for cleaning the wall he sprayed with paint.

On Tuesday, the court heard there was not enough evidence to convict Rory McDermott, John McMonagle and Bernard McFadden who are all also from Londonderry.

During the trial, the court was told that after the women were arrested and released, each woman attended voluntarily to be interviewed by police, and that under questioning all admitted breaking into Raytheon in order to cause damage to the main computer server.

The women claimed they had done so in order to protect the lives and property in the Gaza Strip and to stop alleged war crimes being committed by the Israeli forces.

Speaking outside the court a spokesperson for the group said they were "grateful to the jury and proud of ourselves."

It is not the first time that people accused of trying to cause criminal damage at the premises have been acquitted.

In 2008, six people, including journalist Eamonn McCann, were found not guilty. They were charged following a protest at Raytheon in 2006.