NI chemists dealing with crime wave as violent attacks rise
A PENKNIFE, handgun and a long-barrelled shotgun were used during more than 600 crimes in pharmacies across Northern Ireland last year.
There were 28 cases of violence against a person — the second highest in the UK — and included one person suffering serious injuries after a stabbing.
An investigation carried out by pharmacy publication Chemist and Druggist (C+D) revealed the extent and severity of crimes that pharmacists and their staff are facing in Northern Ireland.
It shows that the PSNI received 620 reports of criminal offences in 2016 — 449 of which were shoplifting, 23 involved burglaries and robberies and 28 offences involved violent crimes and arson.
The report comes months after two pharmacists were stabbed in west Belfast.
In April, a man armed with a knife and wearing a balaclava entered the James McDonagh pharmacy on the Falls Road and threatened two staff members are swearing that it beats sleeping tablets hands down.
“We ran out two days ago and we’ve had to wait until now to replenish our stock,” Fiona said.
“A lot of other UK before attacking them. The pharmacy’s owner, Paul McDonagh told the publication: “He came round to the dispensary and was looking for Tramadol, so I told him he wasn’t getting any medication. Then he stabbed locum pharmacist Peter Wright in the chest.
“Peter just said calm down and then the next thing the attacker has stuck a knife in his chest.
“Peter is in his 60s. To stab anyone in the chest is bad enough, but to do it to a 60-year-old man is horrific.
“After that he came over to at- shops have been having the same problem.”
She added that she’s already placed another order for Sleepy, which is made in a factory in Poole, in Dorset, England, but must now play the waiting game when it comes to delivery.
On its website, Lush advises tack me. There was a brief struggle and I was stabbed in the arm, the groin and the hand.”
A 26-year-old man was later arrested and appeared in court over the stabbing incident.
Ulster Chemists Association president Cliff McElhinney said: “Given its necessary position on the High Street, community pharmacies have always been a target for robberies, but recent years have seen increasing violence with criminals using firearms and knives in many attacks. In the previous few months, two other pharmacies had been targeted, with one person injured.”
A Health and Social Care Board spokesman said: “These incidents highlight the increased attacks on front line health service staff such as those working in community pharmacies.
“These sorts of incidents should be utterly condemned.”
Sheelin McKeagney, chair of the Pharmacy Forum NI, said: “Every worker, in healthcare or otherwise should be entitled to go to their place of work and not be concerned that they may be attacked during their working day.” would-be buyers that: “You’ll sleep well after dipping into this dreamy lotion, made with a gentle oatmeal infusion, calming lavender flower and comfortingly sweet tonka absolute”.
It adds: “A rich, malty and floral perfume conjures up visions of sugar plums and hot drinks topped with whipped cream while the heavenly ministrations of creamy Fair Trade organic cocoa butter and delicate lavender water cool and enrich the skin.
“Blanket your body in this lovely lotion before stepping into soft pyjamas for snugly nights beside the fire”.