Courts / Wicklow / Report

'Jekyll and Hyde' pharmacist avoids jail for supplying prescription drugs to friends

Date
2020-10-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Wicklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

John O'Meara, 42, a superintendent pharmacist who owned three pharmacies in Wicklow, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of prescription tablets for sale or supply at his home on 24 August 2018. Gardaí seized 1,700 Xanax tablets and 330 Ritalin tablets, worth an estimated €4,000. An investigation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland led to a High Court order in September 2018 suspending O'Meara from acting as a pharmacist. He complied with the order, remains the owner of the pharmacies but cannot be involved in their running, and has appointed a replacement superintendent pharmacist. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, taking into account O'Meara's cooperation, mental health issues, and the fact that he had not been involved in the "party lifestyle" since the arrest. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for those 18 months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Jekyll and Hyde' pharmacist avoids jail for supplying prescription drugs to friends. Charges or matters: possession of prescription tablets for sale or supply at his home on August 24, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 24, 2018 Incident
September 2018 Incident
2020-10-06 Publication

Why: "He seemed to be living like Jekyll and Hyde," Sgt Ryan said, before he agreed with Mr McCormack that because of O'Meara's profession he was able to get easy access to these prescription drugs for his own use and then also "siphoned" them off to those in his social group. CNI source report