Addict used forged drug prescription
Desmond McCabe, aged 49, of 49 Thomas Davis St, Blackpool, Cork, yesterday pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to using the forged prescription to obtain the medication.
McCabe is originally from Dublin, where he used to work as a pathologist’s technician in a number of hospitals. He was caught in Aug 2011 trying to get the benzodiazepine-type drug at Sam McCauley’s chemist in Blackpool Shopping Centre.
The HSE had become aware of prescriptions stolen from Cork University Hospital being used to get Xanax tablets. The HSE alerted all of the chemists in the Cork area at the time the theft was detected.
On Aug 18, McCabe presented one of the prescriptions at the chemist in Blackpool. Gardaí were called and McCabe was arrested at the scene.
Emmet Boyle, solicitor, said McCabe was at pains to point out he had bought one of the stolen prescriptions but had nothing to do with the larger quantity of prescriptions going missing from CUH.
McCabe had seven previous convictions for similar offences in Dublin, involving obtaining prescribed medication that was not prescribed for him.
“In an earlier life, he was working as a pathologist’s assistant,” said Mr Boyle. “He had a good education and a good work record. He was working around the clock and looking after his parents. His entire life was devoted to his late parents. He developed a severe addiction to benzodiazepine-type tablets.”
McCabe underwent a number of residential treatment programmes in Cork and Dublin but ended up going back on the drug afterwards.
“He keeps going around and around in circles,” said Judge Con O’Leary.
“Part of the reason is that he has never found it worth his while to leave it behind.”
Judge O’Leary put sentencing back for five months but warned that if McCabe committed any similar offences within that period, the case was to be re-entered at Cork District Court.
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