Ballymena gym owner fined after unlicensed weight-loss medicines seized

A Ballymena gym owner has been fined after unlicensed weight-loss medicines were discovered at his business — prompting a stark warning from health officials about the dangers of buying or supplying drugs outside regulated healthcare channels.

Daniel O’Neill, 59, owner of DISQ Gym at Ross Court in Ballymena, appeared before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to an offence in breach of the Human Medicines Regulations. He was fined £1,000 plus an offender levy.

The Court heard that on Thursday 9 October 2025, an enforcement officer from the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG) visited the gym premises.

During the inspection, the officer discovered and seized unlicensed weight-loss medicines intended for sale or supply.

The case has raised fresh concern about the circulation of weight-loss injections and other medicines outside regulated healthcare settings — a trend officials say poses a real risk to public health.

Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Department of Health who directed the investigation, said the outcome should serve as a warning.

“This conviction sends a clear message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and controls which are in place to ensure public safety and integrity of the medicines supply chain.

“I would urge people to consider the implications of buying drugs online or from dubious sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health.

“Of particular concern to MRG is the supply of unlicensed weight-loss injections outside the normal healthcare arena. This investigation has confirmed unlicensed medication in circulation, which presents a real risk of adverse health effects. We continue to monitor the marketplace and will take effective action where this is necessary.”

Aaron McKendry, Interim Head of the Medicines Regulatory Group, described the unlawful distribution and misuse of unauthorised medicinal products in Northern Ireland as a “serious issue”.

“The risk to public safety posed by the unlawful distribution and misuse of unauthorised medicinal products in Northern Ireland is a serious issue. Taking short cuts and using these medicines could expose you to a dangerous counterfeit or substandard medicine.

“It is extremely important that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine.

“Medicines obtained through unregulated or unapproved sources will often not have been prescribed by a healthcare professional, may not have been subject to the normal safety and quality controls on manufacture and, as such, may not be of the required quality or be of the nature described.

“The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to stop illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alerting the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain.”

Growing demand — but limited access through NHS in Northern Ireland

The case also unfolds against the backdrop of soaring demand for new-generation weight-loss treatments such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.

While these prescription medicines have attracted significant public attention across the UK, they are not currently available through Northern Ireland’s health service for weight management. For many people struggling with obesity or weight-related health conditions, private prescriptions remain the only route — often at a cost running into hundreds of pounds per month.

That financial barrier places clinically regulated treatment out of reach for some, creating fertile ground for a shadow marketplace. Health officials have repeatedly warned that where legitimate supply is restricted or expensive, unlicensed or counterfeit versions can quickly emerge — sold online, through social media, or via informal networks with little or no medical oversight.

Unlike regulated prescriptions issued by a GP, pharmacist or specialist clinician, medicines sourced outside approved healthcare settings may not have been subject to recognised safety testing, quality control or proper storage conditions. Injections marketed as weight-loss solutions may not contain the substance advertised — or may contain additional unknown ingredients.

Regulators say this dynamic heightens the risk to patients: strong consumer demand, limited NHS access and high private costs can combine to drive a dangerous black market in unlicensed products.

The Department of Health has urged anyone with concerns or suspicions about the unlawful use of medicines to contact the Medicines Regulatory Group at MRGCaseReferrals@health-ni.gov.uk.

Anyone who suspects a medicine has been falsified is advised to speak to a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, and report the matter through the Yellow Card reporting system.

The case underlines a clear message from regulators: when it comes to medicines — particularly fast-growing markets such as weight-loss treatments — safety depends on staying within the regulated system.