This week the case against three People Before Profit members and other campaigners was yet again adjourned, this time until December 3rd.
Goretti Horgan and Nina Pulis alongside People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin face charges in relation to participation at demonstrations opposing complicity with Israel's Gaza genocide.
The court heard that there are 19 police witnesses to be called and that a full day must be set aside for a future hearing. This saga is becoming truly ridiculous.
Cllr Shaun Harkin said, "Every day we hear establishment politicians demanding more resources for the police, we have the chief constable complaining about a lack of officers, yet the state wants to call 19 police witnesses to prosecute people for trying to demand government action to stop genocide.
"Last week we witnessed the abject failure of Stormont to hold to account an Education Minister whom a majority of MLAs backed a no confidence motion calling for him to step down from his role in response to a propaganda trip to Israel.
"The Justice Minister and bodies under her direction should focus on holding those complicit with genocide to account in line with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
We intend to fight this all the way. No one will accept any caution or give any admission of wrongdoing for acting to stop war crimes. These charges should be dropped at once."
Cllr Harkin described the process as shambolic:
"This is a malicious prosecution designed to restrict the democratic right to protest. It is telling that in the midst of a genocide only those who actively oppose the slaughter find themselves before the courts. We are part of a global struggle for justice, and we will not rest until the war criminals are in the dock.”