A Paris court has thrown out a legal case against nine activists who bared their breasts in a rowdy protest inside Notre Dame Cathedral, ruling that there was insufficient evidence of any material damage.

Prosecutors had sought fines against the activists from feminist group Femen, who pounded a huge church bell in the landmark Paris cathedral in February last year to express anger at the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to gay marriage.

They also staged a mock celebration of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

The activists went on trial in July in a case pitting arguments for freedom of speech against proponents of freedom of religion. The prosecutor requested fines of €1,500 against each activist for charges of damaging property.

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