A Belfast man has been acquitted by direction of running a brothel.
A jury of six men and six women were sworn in at Belfast Crown Court to hear the case against Brian Gillan.
The 66-year-old, of Friendly Place, denied that “between October 1, 2017 and April 13, 2018, he kept or managed or acted in the management of, or assisted in the management of, a brothel”.
Shortly after the jury was put in charge, Crown barrister Samantha Madden told the court: “I can confirm that the prosecution is offering no evidence against the defendant.”
Addressing the jury, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said the prosecution were now offering no evidence against Gillan over the alleged offence.
"In the circumstances, you will have to return a verdict and I will invite the foreperson to sign a piece of paper that the defendant has been found not guilty by direction.
“I am directing you to find him not guilty by direction as there is no evidence against him.”
Following the acquittal, Judge Kerr told Gillan he was now “free to go”.
No details were given in court on Thursday surrounding the charge which Gillan always denied.
But previous courts heard he was arrested along with two women during raids by police in Belfast and Antrim in April 2018.
More than 200 police officers took part in the searches, supported by the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs.