DR HUGH MCGOLDRICK

KRW LAW LLP is instructed on behalf of Dr Hugh McGoldrick. Yesterday at Downpatrick Crown Court sitting in Belfast, Dr McGoldrick pleaded guilty to two counts of offences under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004.

 

The offences related to the breach of protocol in relation to clinical trials on patients. Dr McGoldrick entered pleas of guilty solely on the basis that the tests were for the benefit of patients and that there was no dishonesty involved for any pecuniary gain.

 

That is the case he has made consistently throughout the duration of the pre-trial process and remains the position following today’s hearing. All other allegations contained in other counts on the indictment were strenuously denied and have not been proceeded with by the Crown.

 

Any media reporting speculating or suggesting otherwise on both the basis of plea and the other allegations is both misleading and prejudicial to Dr McGoldrick and the pending sentencing hearing.  All the monies received in relation to the relevant drug trials have long since been refunded following an earlier acceptance of technical breaches by Dr McGoldrick to the General Medical Council.

 

Yesterday the trial judge when adjourning the case for sentencing stated:

 

“Now you have pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2, I have directed pre-sentence reports. By granting you bail you should not take that as an indication you will only receive something other than a custodial sentence. It will be determined by what I hear at the hearing on the 26 May 2016”