One year suspended sentence for forging prescriptions

By Eimear Dodd and David O’Sullivan

A woman with an addiction to sleeping tablets has been given a one-year suspended sentence for forging prescriptions.

Lynsey Ryan (39) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 51 counts of forging prescriptions at five pharmacies in west Dublin over a two-year period between August 2018 and August 2020.

Ryan, of Errigal Road, Drimnagh, told gardai she was taking 20 sleeping tablets each night and had come to rely on the tablets to help her sleep.

Sentencing Ryan yesterday, Judge Orla Crowe said she “has an addiction that she is dealing with” and that “her personal circumstances were very difficult”.

Judge Crowe took into consideration Ryan always paid for the tablets, but she said that was “not to condone in any way what happened”.

She handed down a sentence of one year and suspended it on a number of conditions.

As part of her sentence, Ryan is to engage with employment services.

She must also undergo urine analysis and if drugs are detected, the case may be reintroduced to the court.

Ryan has 159 previous district court convictions, including 67 for using a false instrument.

Garda Dylan McGrath previously gave evidence that gardai were contacted by staff at Maher’s Pharmacy, Churchtown after a woman visited the pharmacy with a forged prescription for sleeping tablets.

The pharmacist became suspicious and contacted the doctor named on the prescription, who said it was a forgery.

Gardai also spoke to the doctor, who confirmed that it was not his signature on the prescription and he did not know the patient name.

A forged prescription alert was later issued by the HSE, which led to reports of forged prescriptions from four other pharmacies.

Gardai obtained CCTV from each of the pharmacies.

There were 12 incidents at Lloyds Pharmacy Tallaght and 36 incidents at McCabe’s Pharmacy Tallaght.

Three further incidents occurred at three other pharmacies including Maher’s Pharmacy.

In each case, a woman using a fictious name  “Aisling Dunne” handed over a prescription for sleeping tablets.

Gardai made contact with the defendant, and Ryan was arrested on March 27, 2021.

She made full admissions during interview and expressed her remorse.

Gda McGrath agreed with defence counsel that Ryan had a copy of headed paper, which she would photocopy, cut out and then write the prescription.

Ryan told gardai she did not try to get a legitimate prescription and she was ashamed of her actions, which she recognised were criminal.

Ryan said she had been addicted to sleeping tablets for 15 years and she takes more than could be prescribed.

She also takes other medication prescribed by her GP.

Ryan said her addiction issues started following the death of two family members and she relied on the sleeping tablets to help her sleep.

A letter of apology from Ryan was handed to the court, as well as a letter from her partner.