A Co Meath company which imported and sold medicine products without having a permit faced charges at Navan Court. Brendan Leonard and Leoland Ltd Brookfield with addresses at Drumree faced a total of 287 charges. A plea of guilty was entered on one sample charge on each of the summonses – four in the case of Mr Leonard and five against the company. The court was told that an extensive investigation had taken place over 18 months relating to the importation from a manufacturer in India and the selling of medicines through a website. The defendants did not have the necessary authorisation.
Three products were marketed through the website, one of which was an anti-fungal spray. The products were targeted at the horse industry. It was claimed that the medicines were available for humans and could be purchased in a well-known multiple store. However, this was contradicted by the prosecution. Prosecutors said that investigating officers had conducted “mystery shopping” by placing orders and getting delivery. Prosecuting lawyers said the government depart treated the affair “with a reasonable degree of seriousness”.
Defence counsel said the defendant had co-operated with the investigation from the beginning. He had suffered a substantial loss and the medicines seized were now out of date. Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a €300 fine on each of four sample charges against the company. The judge struck out charges against Mr Leonard on the payment of €1,000 to St Vincent de Paul. He will also have to pay €5,000 legal costs.
