Ballymena gym owner convicted for unlawful possession of weight-loss medicines
A 59-year-old Ballymena man charged with an offence in breach of the Human Medicines Regulations has been fined £1,000 (plus offender levy).
Daniel O’Neill, owner of a gym at Ross Court, Ballymena, appeared at the town’s Magistrates Court on Wednesday (February 25) where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard on Thursday, October 9, 2025 an enforcement officer from the Department of Health's Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG) visited the defendant’s DISQ Gym business at Ross Court. During the visit the officer discovered and seized unlicensed weight-loss medicines intended for sale or supply.
Speaking after the hearing, Peter Moore, senior medicines enforcement officer, with the Department of Health, who directed the investigation, said: “This conviction sends a clear message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and controls which are in place to ensure public safety and integrity of the medicines supply chain.
“I would urge people to consider the implications of buying drugs online or from dubious sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health.
“Of particular concern to MRG is the supply of unlicensed weight-loss injections outside the normal healthcare arena. This investigation has confirmed unlicensed medication in circulation, which presents a real risk of adverse health effects. We continue to monitor the marketplace and will take effective action where this is necessary.”
Concerns about the unlawful use of medicines can be reported at [email protected]
Aaron McKendry, interim head of MRG, commented: “The risk to public safety posed by the unlawful distribution and misuse of unauthorised medicinal products in Northern Ireland is a serious issue. Taking short cuts and using these medicines could expose you to a dangerous counterfeit or substandard medicine.
“It is extremely important that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine.
"Medicines obtained through unregulated or unapproved sources will often not have been prescribed by a healthcare professional, may not have been subject to the normal safety and quality controls on manufacture and, as such, may not be of the required quality or be of the nature described.”