An appeal by a Kildare man against his conviction for the manufacture and supply of an industrial bleach product as illegal medicine has been struck out after he failed to show up in court.

The Circuit Court in Naas struck out the appeal by Patrick Merlehan, who was convicted on 27 October 2016 at Naas District Court of the manufacture and supply of Miracle Mineral Solution, on the Irish market, and was fined a total of €4,000.

Merlehan was fined a total of €4,000 for the manufacture and supply of the unauthorised medicinal product.

He had appealed the conviction but his conviction stands after today's hearing.

MMS is made from industrial bleach and has no recognised therapeutic benefits.

Health Products Regulatory Authority investigators, supported by gardaí and the Regional Support Unit, raided premises controlled by Merlehan at Ark Recycling, Moone, Co Kildare on 6 November 2014 and seized MMS-making material.

Merlehan had offered an autism activist, Fiona O'Leary, MMS as a claimed cure for her child's autism. Ms O'Leary gave evidence in the 2016 case.

RTÉ Prime Time filmed undercover at an MMS seminar at the Ark Recyling building two weeks after the raid and arrest of Merlehan.

Participants in the seminar were taught how to mix, make and market the controversial product and how to subvert the legal process through the use of 'freeman' tactics in courts of law.

The secret filming was broadcast in the 2015 documentary, 'The Bleach Cult' about MMS and the cult, Genesis II, which is led by an American ex-Scientologist, Jim Humble.

Merlehan was a claimed 'bishop' of Genesis II.