Stoneyford parade conviction isoverturned

Mark Harbinson’s case centred round a parade in the village by The Pride of the Village on 11th July 2009.

He was convicted in January this year of three offences contrary to section 8(7) of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998.

But an appeal last month in the County Court found there was no evidence that Harbinson knowingly failed to comply with a condition imposed by the Parades Commission as was required to be proven, beyond all reasonable doubt for each offence. The judge therefore directed an acquittal.

The chairman of the Pride of the Village band, Paul Smith, said the band always maintained they had never received the determination from the Parade Commission and had therefore proceeded with the parade as planned.

He also said there was great unease that only Harbinson and two others were prosecuted even though none of them were in charge of the parade, were not the organisers and were not office bearers in the band.

A spokesman for the band welcomed the court’s ruling and condemned what he said was an apparent ‘witch-hunt’ against members of the band.