Woman avoids jail for selling banned diet pills

A mother-of-two, who began importing and supplying banned slimming tablets which carry serious health risks, has been spared a jail sentence.

Lydia McCarthy, with an address at Alexandra Place, East Road, East Wall, Dublin was fined €3,000 by Judge John O’Neill at Dublin District Court.

Judge O’Neill heard she had ordered thousands of ‘Reduce’ slimming pills, which contained an active ingredient that has been withdrawn from markets due to links to strokes and heart problems.