Charges against a Trillick man accused of having 10,000 ecstasy tablets have been sensationally dropped as his trial was due to begin.

David Bryans (31) of Tummery Road, now residing at Breagho, Enniskillen was due to stand trial at Dungannon Crown Court on Monday. He was also facing a charge of possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of electricity.

However at the last minute the Public Prosecution Service indicated they were offering no evidence and that the defendant had no case to answer. The trail had been expected to run for one week.

Bryans had strenuously maintained his innocence since the time of his arrest on September 9, 2006. He was represented by Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors of Omagh. It had been claimed the drugs were found in a box in a Scania lorry he had been driving on Victoria Road, Magheramason after it was stopped and searched by police. Until the trial was abandoned this week Bryans had been on bail under stringent conditions.