Prosecutors in Northern Ireland have decided not to take any action against 14 people reported by police for alleged breaches of Covid-19 restrictions during Black Lives Matter protests in Belfast and Derry last June.
The Public Prosecution Service said the decision was taken "after careful consideration of all evidence" submitted by the PSNI.
In a statement, it said there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction for any offence", so the test for prosecution had not been met.
The decision is another embarrassment for the PSNI, which previously apologised after Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman said she found justification in claims that the handling of the protests was "unfair and discriminatory".
Following that finding, Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: "The time is right to show humility and say sorry."
Acknowledging today's decison not to prosecute any of the 14 people reported for alleged breaches of coronavirus regulations, the PSNI repeated the apology.
In its statement, the PPS said factors it considered included the fact that the protests related to a matter of important public concern, were peaceful, and organised in a manner which sought to minimise any transmission of coronavirus, including steps to encourage social distancing.
It also said provisions in the Covid regulations at the time "created, in certain respects, a lack of legal clarity as regards what activity would be lawful."
PPS Assistant Director Martin Hardy said: "The PPS can only bring a case before a court when, after a through consideration of all relevant matters, it is concluded that the evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction.
"The conclusion reached in relation to these 14 individuals - who were seeking to safely exercise their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression on an important social issue - is that there is no prospect of conviction in relation to any offence."
Those who took part in the protest said they felt vindicated by today's decision.
"We were right all along and the way we were treated by the politicians, [and] the way we were treated by the police was unfair, it was discriminatory. We were treated differently from all other settled communities," said Black Lives Matter campaigner Cuthbert Tura Arutura.
"This hostile environment towards people of colour has to stop."
Sipho Sibanda said the behaviour and attitude of police officers had traumatised her and her children, describing the day of the protest as "a cold day in hell".
Welcoming the decision, she said it was a day for celebrating.
Solicitor Darragh Mackin, of Belfast legal firm Phoenix Law, said the Chief Constable should personally apologise to each of the 14 people the PSNI reported to prosecutors.
PSNI response
Responding to the decision, PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said it was clear that the police handling of the events "unintentionally damaged the confidence and trust of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Community."
He added: "The Chief Constable has apologised for the anger, upset and frustration caused by our policing operation, and I would like to repeat that apology today."
Mr Hamilton said the PSNI has established a Community Relations Taskforce to help address community concerns and its reviewing its policies and practices.
Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson is currently investigating another complaint of alleged "race discrimination" in the way the PSNI handled the protests.
She is examining "allegations of inconsistencies" in how the PSNI dealt with Black Lives Matter protests compared to the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey in west Belfast last June.
Around 70 spot fines were issued to demonstrators who took part in a Black Lives Matter protests in Derry and Belfast, but weeks later police did not intervene when an estimated 2,000 people attended Mr Storey's funeral.
