Abortion drug charge against Co Tyrone man dropped

A Northern Ireland prosecutor has dropped a charge against a Co Tyrone man of giving a woman a drug to procure an abortion.

Dungannon Magistrates Court heard on Monday that a charge alleging Philip Griffiths (24) administered a drug to procure an abortion on a date between September 1st and October 31st last year was being withdrawn "without prejudice."

He still faces accusations that he assaulted the woman and possessed a kitchen knife with intent to inflict GBH (grievous bodily harm).

Mr Griffiths, from Spout Walk in Fivemiletown, is also charged with 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.

He did not attend court to hear the development in the case against him on Monday but is due before the court on May 4th when the investigating officer is scheduled to attend to give the court an update on the progress of the file.

Mr Griffiths is currently on his own £300 bail with conditions that he is barred from contacting the woman he allegedly assaulted and from entering Fivemiletown.