Seven men who were accused of murdering a Catholic man in Coleraine two years ago have had their charges reduced to manslaughter.
Kevin McDaid was attacked and beaten by a loyalist mob in the County Derry town after a Celtic-Rangers soccer match in May 2009.
On Monday, the Public Prosecutions Service told Ballymena Magistrates' Court that it intends to drop the murder charges.
In total, 11 men were charged in connection with the death of the 49-year-old father-of-four community worker and the attempted murder of his friend, Damien Fleming.
The seven men originally charged with Mr. McDaid's murder are all from Coleraine and their ages range from 21 to 52.
The men are due to reappear in court later this month.
