Cavan pharmacist contravenes Irish Medicines Board Regulations

A case taken by the Irish Medicines Board against a Cavan pharmacist with pharmacies in Cavan town, Kilnaleck and Clones had a sequel at Bailieboro District Court before Judge Sean MacBride. Fines totalling €5,000 and €3,000 destruction costs were imposed in respect of seven offences. Four fines were imposed against the pharmacist and three against the limited company in relation to placing named medicinal products on the market that were not in accordance with Irish Medicines Board authorisation grants. In relation to the charges against Martin McDaid, with an address at 82 Ardkeen, Cavan and a director of M&M McDaid Limited with its registered office at Main Street, Kilnaleck he was fined €1,000 for placing on the market or otherwise supply a medicinal product, namely Lipitor 40mg, containing Atorvastatin Calcium, which was not in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. Judge MacBride also directed that he pay a contribution of €3,000 for destruction of the products in question. On a second summons, that Martin McDaid, as a director of M&M McDaid Limited, trading as McDaid"s Chemist, Kilnaleck, on the same date he was fined €1,000 for placing on the market or otherwise supplying a medicinal product, namely Ramipril 10mg, which was not in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. In relation to a third summons that Martin McDaid, a director of McDaid Pharmacy Limited, trading as Connolly"s Chemist at Unit 14, New Court Shopping Centre, Church Street, Cavan, on the same date, was fined €500 for placing on the market or otherwise supplying a medicinal product, namely Cardura XL8mg, containing Doxazosin Mesylate, which was not in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. In relation to a fourth summons, that Martin McDaid, a director of M&M Pharmacy Limited, trading as Clones Pharmacy, 179 Fermanagh Street, Clones, also on July 3, 2006, a fined of €500 was imposed, for placing on the market or otherwise did supply a medicinal product, namely Priadel 200mg, containing Lithium Carbonate, which was not in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. In relation to penalty against the company, Judge MacBride, imposed a fine of €500, in respect of a summons that M&M McDaid Limited, trading as Clones Pharmacy, placed on the market or otherwise supplied a medicinal product, namely Lipitor 40kg, containing Atorvastatin Calcium otherwise than in accordance with a product authorisation by the Irish Medicines Board. A further fine of €1,000 was imposed against the company in respect of a summons alleging that M&M McDaid Limited, having a registered office at Main Street, Kilnaleck, placed on the market or otherwise supplied a medicinal product, namely Lipitor 40mg, otherwise than in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. The company was fined a further €500 on a summons alleging that McDaid Pharmacy Limited, trading as Connolly"s Chemist, Unit 14, Newcourt Shopping Centre, Cavan placed on the market or otherwise did supply a medicinal product, namely Priadel 400mg, otherwise than in accordance with a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. Defending solicitor Mr. Denis McDwyer told Judge McBride that he had no questions under cross examination for Joseph Callan, an authorised officer with the Irish Medicines Board, who was one of a number of officers who inspected three separate pharmacies on July 3, 2006. He said that Mr. Callan had explained in his evidence that the products in question had been licensed in the UK and 'that is the point we would be making'. Mr. McDwyer said on the face of it, it seems that quite a substantial quantity of drugs of this nature were on the premises. 'But as fairly explained to you judge by Mr. Callan, the position is that there were three pharmacies in Northern Ireland and three pharmacies in the Republic of Ireland and they are all in the same area'. 'I am instructed that what happened in this particular instance is that the company tries as far as possible to have a unified ordering system for stock control purposes, and then they distribute the various goods around the various pharmacies.' Judge McBride said: 'That"s what they say. There is a substantial saving to your clients in relation to the Northern Ireland products. That won"t wash with me. 'Your client is operating pharmacies on this side of the border, in the Republic of Ireland, and ignorance of the law is no excuse. He knew precisely what the regulations are and he chose to put a coach and four through them as far as this court is concerned.' Mr McDwyer said his client came before the Medicines Board and fully co-operated with it.