Woman Fined Over Possession Of Illegal Weight Loss Medicine

A 33-year-old Co Tyrone woman has been fined £3,300 (plus offender levy) for breaches of the Human Medicines Regulations. Shaunagh McElroy, of Fardross Road, Clogher, appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on 13 January, where she pleaded guilty to 18 charges.

The court heard that in March 2023 and again in March 2024, enforcement officers from the Department of Health's Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG) conducted inspections at McElroy's address, where she operated the SHB Hair and Beauty business. During these inspections, officers discovered and seized significant quantities of prescription-only and unlicensed weight-loss medications, as well as other unlicensed prescription medication that McElroy was unlawfully in possession of.

Furthermore, the court heard that Border Force had intercepted a package containing additional weight-loss medication that was being sent to McElroy's address.

Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Department of Health who directed the investigation said: "This conviction sends a clear message that there are serious consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and controls which are in place to ensure public safety and integrity of the medicines supply chain.

"I would urge people to consider the implications of buying drugs online or from dubious sources, there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health. "Of particular concern to MRG is the use of unregulated weight-loss injections outside the normal healthcare arena. This investigation has confirmed unlicensed medication in circulation, which presents a real risk of adverse health effects. We continue to monitor the marketplace and will take effective action where this is necessary."

Canice Ward, Head of Medicines Regulatory Group added: "The risk to public safety posed by the unlawful distribution and misuse of both authorised and unauthorised medicinal products within the non-surgical cosmetic sector in Northern Ireland is a serious issue. Patients should not be fooled by professional looking websites or social media websites offering medicines without prescription. Taking short cuts and using these medicines could expose you to a dangerous counterfeit or substandard medicine.

"It is extremely important that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine. Medicines obtained through unregulated or unapproved sources will often not have been prescribed by a healthcare professional, may not have been subject to the normal safety and quality controls on manufacture and, as such, may not be of the required quality or be of the nature described.

"The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to stop illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alerting the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain."