Charge dropped in abortion pills case

A prosecuting lawyer told Dungannon Magistrates’ Court that count four 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Griffiths administered a drug to procure an abortion on a date between September 1 and October 31 last year was being withdrawn “without prejudice”.

That’s not the end of the case, however, as Griffiths also faces accusations that he assaulted the woman and possessed a kitchen knife with intent to inflict GBH.

Griffiths, from Spout Walk in Fivemiletown, is also charged with threatening to kill the woman and threatening to destroy her home on a date between January and December last year, harassing her and causing criminal damage to her bathroom door.

Griffiths did not attend court on Monday but he is due before the court on May 4, when an update on the case is due.

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