A 64-year-old man accused of 39 offences of rape, unlawful carnal knowledge and indecent assault of his two nieces and a nephew has secured a High Court order preventing his prosecution.
Mr Justice Kearns accepted arguments by lawyers for the man that there had been "unnecessary and excessive" delay in bringing the prosecution.
There was a lapse of 27 months between the time the man was first arrested and the time he was charged.
The judge also upheld the man's claim there had been delay on the part of the alleged victims in making their complaints.