Prague five in the clear

All the charges have been dropped against the five Northern Ireland squad members detained in Prague following an early morning…

All the charges have been dropped against the five Northern Ireland squad members detained in Prague following an early morning incident in a nightclub.

Goalkeeping coach Tommy Wright, skipper Michael Hughes and players David Healy, Peter Kennedy and Glenn Ferguson were due to be released by the police soon.

The five will fly back to Britain on the first flight out of Prague tomorrow morning.

They had been detained by Czech police after a fracas in a nightclub during which a bouncer was injured and needed stitches in a wound to his face.

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Police officers took the five from the team's hotel to a city police station for questioning and they missed the team's flight home this morning.

However, after several hours of questioning the police have dropped all charges against the five.

Irish Football Association general secretary David Bowen said: "All charges against all five have been dropped.

"They will be getting out of the police station very soon.

"They will be on the first flight home tomorrow morning."

It is understood that the bouncer injured in the incident has a criminal record.

Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy was delighted that all the charges had been dropped.

He had always believed in the players' innocence and he said: "This is great news, it's really brilliant news.

"I had always said that I thought they were innocent and I'm glad that it's come out that they are.

"I'm absolutely delighted that all the charges have been dropped. I believed in them all along and they have proved me right.

"It's been a very difficult day but at least it's had a happy ending." -PA