Suspended sentence on forged prescription

A 42 year-old woman who handed in what turned out to be forged prescriptions for sleeping tablets at an Ashbourne pharmacy received a four month suspended jail sentence.

Lynsey Ryan of Errigal Road, Drimnagh was charged with using a false instrument on nine different dates between 11th November 2022 and 15th April the following year at the Chemist Warehouse, Ashbourne Retail Park.

She pleaded guilty to the offences at Trim District Court on Tuesday.

Sergeant Cathal Brady outlined the circumstances of the offences.

Defence barrister James O’Brien told the defendant was a mother of three, who had an addiction going back some years. She had completed a programme. She had linked in with the frontline and probation services as a result of numerous convictions. The forged prescriptions were for sleeping tablets.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan suspended the sentence for 18 months.