Patrick Campbell attacked Peter McDonagh – owner of James McDonagh Pharmacy on Falls Road, west Belfast – and locum pharmacist Peter Wright on April 6, 2017, after being denied tramadol, Belfast Crown Court heard last week (August 24).

The judge sentenced Mr Campbell, 28, to six years in prison and six years on a supervised licence after pleading guilty to attempted robbery of the pharmacy and two counts of “unlawfully and maliciously wound[ing] with intent to do grievous bodily harm”.

Last year, Mr McDonagh explained to C+D how he and Mr Wright had sustained multiple stab wounds during the “horrific” attack. Read his account here.

Neither pharmacist sustained life-threatening injuries, and Mr McDonagh returned to work the following day, he told C+D at the time.

Mr Campbell also pleaded guilty to other offences, including possession of a weapon and assaulting a police officer.

Commenting on the attack last year, a spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland said that there is a “recognised drug problem” in Belfast – and Northern Ireland more widely – and prescription drugs “seem to be part of the problem”.

In September 2017, a “zero tolerance” campaign was launched in the country following a spate of violent attacks and abusive behaviour towards community pharmacy staff.

The previous month, a C+D investigation exclusively revealed the extent and severity of crime that pharmacists and their staff face across the UK. Read C+D's in-depth analysis of the nature of pharmacy crime here and view an interactive map of pharmacy crime in your area here.