Nurse who doctored prescriptions to feed her drug habit avoids conviction

Deirdre Payne appeared before Judge Andrew Cody at Tullamore District Court, Co. Offaly, on Wednesday of last week.

The 54-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to altered prescriptions.

She had been charged with entering four pharmacies on different dates with duly issued prescriptions which had been altered with intent to deceive.

The incidents took place at Ryan’s Chemist on Main Street in Daingean, on November 22, 2022; Medical Hall, JKL Street, Edenderry on September 23, 2022; Tedders Chemist, JKL Street, Edenderry on September 8, 2022; and Quinn’s Pharmacy, Granary Court, Edenderry on September 7, 2022.

The court had previously heard that Payne, with an address at Riverdale, Clonmore, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, had altered the prescriptions as she didn’t think her doctor would give her any more of a certain drug because she was addicted to it.

Appearing on behalf of Payne at Wednesday’s hearing, her counsel asked that a comment made by the prosecution at a previous hearing be withdrawn.

He said it had been put forward by the prosecution that there had been an ‘utterance’ from the defence to the effect that Xanax dispensed to Ms Payne had resulted in as loss to one of the pharmacies.

He said “there was no loss to the pharmacy”.

The prosecution agreed to withdraw the remark and confirmed no such monetary loss had occurred.

Previously, Payne’s barrister Suzanne Dooner had told the court her client was very ashamed and embarrassed and said the matter had resulted in a significant impact on her.

She had an alcohol addiction and had attended the Rutland Centre.

She had also attended St John of God and was doing well.

In addition, the court heard Payne attended AA and completed a course in Cuan Mhuire in 2023.

The court was informed at a previous sitting in March that Payne had been currently suspended from her work, adding this will have a significant impact on her life going forward.

Ms Dooner said she was supported by her husband, who accompanied her in court.

She said she had allowed her mental health condition to get the better of her.

Addressing Payne, Judge Cody said he had read the report prepared by the Probation Service and described it as “very positive”.

“She has engaged well with all the services available to her,” he said.

Despite this, Judge Cody continued, the four charges before the court concerned the forging of prescriptions by an individual who worked as a nurse.

He said, for this reason, he could not simply strike them out.

Instead, he said, he would impose section 1.1 of the Probation Act.

Under this section, where the court thinks a charge is proved but having regard to the particular circumstances feels it is unjust to impose a punishment, the court may without proceeding to conviction dismiss a charge.