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Fermanagh man imprisoned for veterinary medicines exam fraud

A Fermanagh agricultural merchant was sentenced to four months imprisonment for his role in a veterinary medicines examination fraud.
~ Tuesday, 8 November 2011

At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, Mr Phelim McCorry was also fined £2,000 for possession and supply of prescription only veterinary medicines without proper qualification, contrary to the requirements of the Veterinary Regulations.

The examination fraud happened at Greenmount Agricultural College, Antrim in December 2010.

Head of DHSSPS Medicines Regulatory Group, Professor Mike Mawhinney said: "The Department has made it very clear that it will not tolerate the illegal supply of veterinary medicines under any circumstances. Medicines supplied by unqualified individuals may end up being administered to food producing animals, which poses a risk to the general public and to the agricultural industry.”

Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Medicines Regulatory Group, who led the investigation, said: “This conviction and the penalty imposed by the court sends a very clear message to those willing to involve themselves in the illegal supply of veterinary medicines and in fraud. The investigation demonstrates our determination to stop such activities.

“Farmers and others who use veterinary medicines must ensure that they only buy medicines from reputable and qualified sources.

“The general public and the farming community continue to provide the Department with vital information on a range of illegal practices and we would appeal to them to continue to report any suspicious activity to us.”

Mr McCorry was released on his own bail of £1,000 pending appeal.

Notes to Editors:

  1. Department of Health Medicines Enforcement officers visited ‘McCorry Agricultural Supplies’, Gortaree, Derrylin, Enniskillen in November 2010 and found a large quantity of prescription only veterinary medicines (POM-VPS) and subsequently established that Mr McCorry had been illegally supplying without proper qualification over an extended period.
  2. The fraud by false representation involved Phelim McCorry engaging with an accomplice to take a veterinary medicines SQP examination for him.
  3. Another man, from County Cavan in ROI, has received a formal Adult Caution for his part in the fraud offence.
  4. In the UK, products with a Marketing Authorisation are given unique numbers preceded by the letter "VM". Therefore if a product does not have a VM number on its label it has not been authorised. The body responsible for Marketing Authorisation is the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
  5. A VM issued in respect of a legitimate product provides assurance to the user on the safety, quality and efficacy of the product.
  6. The Veterinary Regulations, 2011 state, amongst other things, that a veterinary medicinal product classified as a POM-VPS may only be supplied when prescribed by a veterinary practitioner, pharmacist or Suitably Qualified Person (either orally or in writing) and must be supplied by one of those groups of people in accordance with the prescription.
  7. It is the duty of the DHSSPS Medicines Regulatory Group to enforce certain provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011.
  8. To report any suspicious activity in relation to the supply of veterinary or human medicines, please call Mr Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer at DHSSPS on 028 9052 2094.
  9. Media enquiries about this press release to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.