Viagra-type drugs were sold on to headshops

The owner of a chain of headshops faces up to 10 years for illegally importing Viagra-like products.

James Bellamy, aged 64, told gardaí the drugs were herbal Chinese Viagra, made from seal penises, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Tests showed some of the drugs contained anaesthetics while the rest contained synthetic treatments for erectile dysfunction. All were prescription-only and some are known to cause to seizures, comas and death in certain users.

Bellamy of Castle Court, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, and his company Harmony Products, now in liquidation, was charged under the Irish Medicines Board Act for not having a licence to sell the products.

Documentation showed he imported 6,000 packages of the drugs some of which were sold wholesale to other headshops.

The case was adjourned until next week so a statement of means for Bellamy can be produced. He faces up to 10 years in prison or a €120,000 fine or both.

Bellamy and Harmony Products pleaded guilty to importation of illegal medical products, selling the drugs wholesale without a license and keeping Lidocaine for sale without a licence, all between Mar 18, 2008 and May 7, 2010.

Brenda Kirby, of the Irish Medicines Board, told prosecuting counsel Colm O’Briain an investigation into the Myth and Magic headshop in Athlone uncovered “Viagra-type” drugs which had been purchased wholesale from Harmony Products.

Officers went to Bellamy’s Nirvana shop on Capel Street and found 17 boxes containing the drugs. A few days later Bellamy was interviewed and admitted to importing them from China.

He said he was unaware he was doing anything illegal and did not have any documentation about them, but produced an email from his supplier which stated the drugs were made from seal penises.

A year later a search of Bellamy’s premises on St Clares Avenue uncovered 848 sachets of erectile dysfunction drugs.

Mr O’Briain said Bellamy is a director of several companies. Harmony products have amassed “substantial assets” over the years and have €1.33m in assets. The court heard the Capel Street store was burned down in 2010 and over €400,000 in cash was found by firemen.

Defence counsel Peter Maguire BL said there was no suggestion this money was ill-gotten.

Bellamy was remanded on bail until next week.