Shaun Murphy recently appeared before the General Pharmaceutical Council to represent a pharmacist who had been accused of sexual assault against a colleague at work. The pharmacist had previously been tried for the same offence at Ipswich Crown Court. This was in September of last year, when he also was represented by Shaun Murphy. The client was acquitted in the Crown Court proceedings.

The General Pharmaceutical Council have the right to bring regulatory proceedings notwithstanding an acquittal in a Crown Court, and sought to do so in this case. It was effectively a rerun of the proceedings in the Ipswich Crown Court and on this occasion the burden of proof was on the balance of probabilities, as opposed to having to be sure of the pharmacist’s conduct. Notwithstanding this, Shaun Murphy was again successful in defending the pharmacist, and the allegations of sexual assault were not accepted by the Fitness to Practise Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

In addition to an extensive background in criminal law, Shaun Murphy also regularly appears for medical practitioners who encounter problems with their regulatory bodies. This covers proceedings in the General Medical Council, General Dental Council and General Pharmaceutical Council.