A 72 year old pharmacist has been jailed for six months for defrauding €70,000 from the HSE.

Christine Crowley from Main St, Drimoleague in West Cork pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and fraud.

The charges related to a scam that involved falsifying drug payment scheme claims.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the HSE was tricked into reimbursing Crowley for medicines that had never been dispensed to patients.