The Public Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute Sinn Féin councillor Martin Hearty over a T-shirt he wore at a Gaza fundraiser in south Armagh.

Police investigated Hearty under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 following a report on September 19, 2025. That section carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.

In a letter to Hearty, the PPS stated it considered the available evidence and chose not to proceed with charges related to the incident.

Hearty represents south Armagh. He stated the matter stemmed from him wearing an anti-genocide T-shirt at the Gaza solidarity event.

Hearty welcomed the PPS decision and called the police investigation farcical. He noted police had tried to charge him over the T-shirt under the Terrorism Act section.

Hearty said thousands of people in north east Ireland and Britain faced similar charges linked to efforts against Palestine Action. He referenced a declassified report on 2000 people from Britain who joined the Israeli army during the Gaza conflict.

Hearty criticised authorities for not questioning those individuals while targeting opponents of the conflict. He urged PSNI to focus on burglaries and assaults rather than such cases.