An Irvinestown man tried to obtain prescription drugs with a fraudulent prescription docket, a court has heard.

At around 4pm on August 17, 2021 a man entered a pharmacy in Irvinestown with the suspected docket to try and get Class C Zolpidem Tarate Teva.

Jonathan McGrath (39), of Slievebane Road, Irvinestown handed in the suspected fraudulent note for the prescription from a doctor in Donegal.

When the pharmacy rang to make sure it was authentic, they were advised it was not.

McGrath had left the store and was later arrested for suspected fraud.

At a later date, McGrath was interviewed and when asked did he know why he was arrested he said he had handed in a prescription to the pharmacy that was not from the doctor who issued it.

He said he took the tablets for anxiety and depression since 2010 to deal with a family death and the breakdown of his marriage adding that he had become "immune" to them.

McGrath made full admissions for his actions which he apologised for and said he was on a waiting list to see somebody from the addictions team.

His solicitor, Gary Black said McGrath had come before the court for the first time and it was clear there was a background of mental health difficulties which climaxed in this particular offence.

He said the GP note for McGrath showed he had been referred to the community mental health team but there was a waiting list and Covid also added to the delay in being seen.

Mr. Black said McGrath had been taking the medication but they were having no effect on him which resulted in this "foolish and somewhat unsophisticated effort" to obtain the drugs.

He added McGrath fully accepted his actions and that he wished he had walked away five minutes earlier on the day and asked for credit for the defendant's approach to the matter.

Deputy District Judge, John Rea described McGrath's efforts as a "foolish incident" and pointed out that the prescription service exists to protect the public and it was foolish of him to try and bypass it.

Giving him credit for his early plea and clear record, McGrath was handed an 18 month conditional discharge for fraud by false representation and attempted possession of Class C drugs.