Prosecutors at Derry Magistrates’ Court withdrew all charges against Stephen Hargan, 40, of Lisnafin Park in Strabane, Co. Tyrone. The charges related to sexual assault on a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Hargan faced the charges from an incident on July 16 last year. Defence counsel noted he had spent seven months in custody before release on bail on February 19.

The decision to drop the charges followed DNA reports showing Hargan’s DNA was absent from the alleged crime scene. A prosecutor confirmed the withdrawal during Friday’s hearing at Bishop Street court.