09/05/2012

North Belfast Pharmacist Convicted At Belfast Magistrates Court

A 27 year old former Pharmacy manager at a North Belfast Chemist was yesterday convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court for illegally supplying prescription only medicines without GP prescriptions.

Fiona Mary Collins, from Bristow Park, Belfast was fined a total of £975 plus court costs, having pleaded guilty to 13 charges of unlawfully dispensing prescription only medicines, including controlled drugs.

The offences, breaches of the Medicines Act 1968, occurred over a ten month period in 2010, when she worked as the pharmacy manager at McKenzies Chemist, Ardoyne Road, Belfast. The offences, uncovered during an internal dispensing audit, did not result in any physical harm to the patients involved.

DHSSPS Medicines Regulatory Group Senior Enforcement Officer, Peter Moore said: "This conviction sends a clear message that patients and the public can have confidence that we will take decisive action where there has been significant breaches of the legislation."

The matter will now be referred to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

(CD/GK)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

02 November 2011
Dud Animal Medicines Seized In Co Antrim
Medicines Enforcement Officers have seized substantial quantities of unauthorised and illegal veterinary medicines from a residential property in Ballymena. The drugs haul, worth several thousand pounds, included veterinary antibiotics and other veterinary medicines intended for the treatment of large numbers of farm animals.
21 August 2024
Lisburn Woman Fined For Possession Of Unlicensed Prescription Medicines
A Lisburn woman has been fined for the possession of, and the unlawful advertising of, unlicensed prescription medicines. At Lisburn Magistrates' Court, Nadine Poole, of Whitehill Lodge, received fines totalling £600 after pleading guilty to six charges in breach of the Human Medicines Regulations, 2012.
01 November 2016
Prescription Drugs Stolen From Chemist In Co Down
A number of prescription drugs have been stolen during a raid at a chemist in Newtownards, Co Down. Tramadol, temazepam, diazepam and lyrica were stolen during the break-in which happened in the Stratheden Heights area between 5am and 6am on Sunday, 30 October.
23 March 2022
£8m Community Pharmacy Investment Announced
The Health Minister, Robin Swann, has announced an investment of £8m into community pharmacy to support the phased introduction of a new medicines adherence service in Northern Ireland.
18 October 2018
NI Pharmacist Fined As Unqualified Worker Distributes Strong Meds
A County Down pharmacist has been fined £25,000 for allowing an unqualified worker to supply prescription medication such as methadone and pregabalin. The crime at Gerard Maginn's Harts Pharmacy on Main Street, Newcastle, was discovered last year during an inspection audit.