Two women who claim they were sexually abused by an alleged IRA man have said they withdrew their statements because of how prosecutors dealt with the case.

The Belfast women alleged they were abused over a three-year period in the late 1990s, when they were teenagers.

They claim the case was delayed because prosecutors gave precedence to a separate court case, involving allegations made by Máiría Cahill.

They said they had been "utterly let down by the criminal justice system".

The women, who have retained their right to anonymity, released a statement through their solicitor, outlining the background to their case and the delays they faced in bringing the matter to court.