FURTHER charges against a Co Tyrone man who had previously been accused of giving a woman a drug to procure an abortion have been dropped.
At Dungannon Magistrates Court three weeks ago a charge, alleging 24-year-old Philip Griffiths administered a drug to procure an abortion on a date between September 1 and October 31 last year, was withdrawn.
At the same court yesterday a prosecuting lawyer told District Judge John Meehan there had been a decision by the Public Prosectution Service to withdraw the remaining charges as well.
Mr Griffiths, from Spout Walk in Fivemiletown, had been accused of assaulting the woman, possessing a kitchen knife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, threatening to kill the woman and threatening to destroy her home on a date unknown between January and December last year, harassing her and causing criminal damage to her bathroom door.
A solicitor for Mr Griffiths welcomed the decision to drop the charges and said from the outset his legal represenatives "had major concerns about the quality of the evidence and the manner in which the matter was proceeded with."
The lawyer added that the "case has been extremely traumatic for Mr Griffiths and the reputational damage suffered as a result has been irreparable" adding "We are currently considering civil remedies in respect of our client’s position."
