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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ruth Patterson Facebook prosecution: charge is dropped | Ruth Patterson Facebook prosecution: charge is dropped |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Belfast councillor will not be prosecuted over remarks she made on Facebook about a republican march after the charge against her was withdrawn. | A Belfast councillor will not be prosecuted over remarks she made on Facebook about a republican march after the charge against her was withdrawn. |
| Ruth Patterson from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was charged with sending a grossly offensive electronic communication in August. | Ruth Patterson from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was charged with sending a grossly offensive electronic communication in August. |
| She had commented about an imaginary attack in which marchers, including Sinn Féin figures, are killed. | She had commented about an imaginary attack in which marchers, including Sinn Féin figures, are killed. |
| The charge was withdrawn after she was given an informed warning by police. | The charge was withdrawn after she was given an informed warning by police. |
| Mrs Patterson, 57, is an ex-nurse and a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast. | Mrs Patterson, 57, is an ex-nurse and a former deputy lord mayor of Belfast. |
| Apologised | Apologised |
| She was questioned by police after she responded to another Facebook user's comments about the controversial republican parade in Castlederg, County Tyrone. | She was questioned by police after she responded to another Facebook user's comments about the controversial republican parade in Castlederg, County Tyrone. |
| In response to the imaginary attack, she wrote on Facebook: "We would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world." | In response to the imaginary attack, she wrote on Facebook: "We would have done a great service to Northern Ireland and the world." |
| Mrs Patterson later apologised for her comments and said she was guilty of "a lapse of judgement". | Mrs Patterson later apologised for her comments and said she was guilty of "a lapse of judgement". |
| As she left court in Belfast on Friday she spoke briefly to reporters, saying: "I am delighted and thrilled that this case has now finally been put to bed." | As she left court in Belfast on Friday she spoke briefly to reporters, saying: "I am delighted and thrilled that this case has now finally been put to bed." |
| She thanked her legal team and the DUP for "standing by" her during the case. | She thanked her legal team and the DUP for "standing by" her during the case. |
| She added: "But most of all, I thank my loyalist people who stand here today with me, shoulder to shoulder. | She added: "But most of all, I thank my loyalist people who stand here today with me, shoulder to shoulder. |
| "We are unbowed, unbroken and 100% united in loyalty to our Queen and our country. | "We are unbowed, unbroken and 100% united in loyalty to our Queen and our country. |
| "Today is the beginning of the rest of my life and I look forward to it." | "Today is the beginning of the rest of my life and I look forward to it." |
| 'Sensational arrest' | 'Sensational arrest' |
| Her colleague, DUP MLA Jonathan Bell, said his party had "major concerns" about the attempted prosecution of the councillor. | Her colleague, DUP MLA Jonathan Bell, said his party had "major concerns" about the attempted prosecution of the councillor. |
| "Ruth had made an error, she apologised immediately," Mr Bell said outside the court. | "Ruth had made an error, she apologised immediately," Mr Bell said outside the court. |
| "We never saw the need, and don't believe there is justification, for the sensational arrest that she was put through and how she was held for a number of hours. | "We never saw the need, and don't believe there is justification, for the sensational arrest that she was put through and how she was held for a number of hours. |
| "In many a reasonable opinion, that has been seen to be wrong." | "In many a reasonable opinion, that has been seen to be wrong." |
| In a short statement, the police said that decisions on prosecutions were for the Public Prosecution Service. |