A chemist in Co. Mayo was recently convicted on one charge, of the 34 brought against him, in relation to the oversupply of animal medication to a farm in Connacht, according to the Irish Times.

It was previously alleged that the chemist had “grossly oversupplied” a farm – believed to be one of the largest farms in Connacht – with antibiotics and other prescription-only medication (POM).

Daragh Quinn – of Quinn’s Chemist on Bridge Street in Crossmolina – admitted to 34 breaches of EU regulations regarding animal remedies. But he was convicted of just one these charges at a recent sitting of Ballina District Court, the report added.

The presiding judge reportedly dismissed the majority of the charges due to a “lack of clarity” and confusion around some legal definitions.

Quinn was convicted of one charge referring to the placement of adhesive labels on medication, the Irish Times added. A fine of €750 was handed down to Quinn.

The case originated as a result of an inspection of a farm in September 2015. During the visit, officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine found large amounts of antibiotics which led them to suspect that there was a “gross oversupply of antibiotics” on the farm.

Quinn’s Chemist was subsequently inspected; a comparison of Quinn’s files and the antibiotics found on the farm reportedly confirmed the officials’ suspicions.

At a previous sitting of Castlebar District Court, it was heard how Quinn no longer supplies prescription-only medication to the farm in question and was phasing out of veterinary pharmacy altogether.