Pharmacists in plea over violent attacks

Violent attacks are making it almost impossible to run a pharmacy in parts of Dublin, it was claimed today.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union has called for more garda patrols and stricter bail conditions for repeat offenders to combat the problem.

The IPU, which represents 1,600 stores, said there were 91 reported incidents of burglaries, raids and attacks on pharmacies and pharmacy staff in 2005.

Many of the incidents were violent and pharmacy workers were threatened with iron bars, knives and guns by attackers in balaclavas. In one case a security guard was stabbed.

The IPU said the attacks are very traumatising for both the staff and the 400,000 customers who visit pharmacies every day.

There were nine attacks on the Hickey chain of 26 pharmacies around the country.

Owner and IPU member, Paddy Hickey said: “We have been scourged with attacks recently to the point where it is becoming almost impossible to operate a pharmacy on the street in certain parts of Dublin.”

The IPU is holding its AGM in Athlone this weekend which will hear a number of motions calling on the Justice Minister to address the security threat being posed to pharmacies.

Mr Hickey demanded increased garda visibility around pharmacies and stricter bail conditions for known offenders.

He said: “The criminal justice system is too lenient when it comes to applying bail conditions, where a defendant has been accused of violent threats to pharmacy staff.

“Healthcare staff will feel safer, where a defendant, who had previously been convicted on a similar charge, is remanded in custody while awaiting trial.”

“If a criminal has committed a previous offence, they should be required to serve the full custodial sentence, otherwise, there is little disincentive to repeating such offences.”

“In addition, the leniency of sentences commonly imposed effectively rewards such criminal, often violent, behaviour, and, the Government needs to introduce mandatory minimum sentencing for such crimes, if this policy does not change.”

Last year the IPU held two seminars on crime prevention in conjunction with An Garda Siochana in a bid to ensure pharmacy staff could limit the chances of a break-in.