Latest news with #Halpin
The Journal
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Boots Ireland spared court conviction over misleading Black Friday toothbrush and perfume sale
BOOTS IRELAND WAS spared a court conviction today after last month admitting breaking pricing laws during a 2023 Black Friday sale. The breaches found on electric toothbrushes and perfume price tags triggered a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) investigation. On 26 May, the retail giant pleaded guilty before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court to consumer law that compelled traders to base any discount on the lowest price in at least the previous 30 days and to display this price clearly on any price tag or advertisement. Judge Halpin adjourned the case until today for the retailer to pay €4,624 toward the CCPC costs and €1,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity. Finalising the prosecution, he noted that Boots Ireland had complied and he applied the Probation of Offender's Act, leaving it spared a recorded conviction. At the prior hearing, Judge Halpin noted defence submissions that the breach was due to a human error and that the firm was remorseful and had no prior offences on record. Advertisement Judge Halpin remarked that Boots was a very reputable firm in Ireland with branches and employees throughout the country, and he noted a senior compliance officer from the company had travelled over from the UK to attend the proceedings. It was among the first batch of prosecutions under the new sales pricing rules introduced in 2022, the European Union (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) (Amendment) Regulations. Cathal Ó Braonáin BL, for the competition regulator, said the offence arises when a retailer announces a reduced selling cost without announcing the product's lowest price in the preceding 30 days. Boots was found to have committed three pricing breaches for the 17 November, 2023 sale, including advertising an Oral-B toothbrush for €470 with a prior price of €999.99, despite it having been sold at €470 just days before. Two more errors were for another Oral-B toothbrush and a Dior perfume, both advertised at higher previous prices than their actual recent lowest costs. The defence stressed how 104,000 products were on promotion for that Black Friday, and these offences represented a tiny number of items on sale. A full review of internal processes has been carried out, and guidance, protocols, and governance were updated.
RTÉ News
23-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Boots Ireland given Probation Act over misleading Black Friday toothbrush discounts
Boots Ireland has been spared a court conviction after admitting last month to breaking pricing laws during a 2023 Black Friday sale. The breaches found on electric toothbrushes and perfume price tags triggered a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) investigation. On 26 May, the retail giant pleaded guilty before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court to consumer law that compelled traders to base any discount on the lowest price in at least the previous 30 days and to display this price clearly on any price tag or advertisement. Judge Halpin adjourned the case until today for the retailer to pay €4,624 toward the CCPC costs and €1,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity. Finalising the prosecution, he noted that Boots Ireland had complied and he applied the Probation of Offender's Act, leaving it spared a recorded conviction. At the prior hearing, Judge Halpin noted defence submissions that the breach was due to a human error and that the firm was remorseful and had no prior offences on record. Judge Halpin remarked that Boots was a very reputable firm in Ireland with branches and employees throughout the country, and he noted a senior compliance officer from the company had travelled over from the UK to attend the proceedings. It was among the first batch of prosecutions under the new sales pricing rules introduced in 2022, the European Union (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) (Amendment) Regulations. Cathal Ó Braonáin BL, for the competition regulator, said the offence arises when a retailer announces a reduced selling cost without announcing the product's lowest price in the preceding 30 days. Boots was found to have committed three pricing breaches for the 17 November 2023 sale, including advertising an Oral-B toothbrush for €470 with a prior price of €999.99, despite it having been sold at €470 just days before. Two more errors were for another Oral-B toothbrush and a Dior perfume, both advertised at higher previous prices than their actual recent lowest costs. The defence stressed how 104,000 products were on promotion for that Black Friday, and these offences represented a tiny number of items on sale. A full review of internal processes has been carried out, and guidance, protocols, and governance were updated.
Irish Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Terrified student gets 3-year restraining order against ex: 'He's following me'
A terrified young student has been granted a three-year restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after alleging he threatened and stalked her around Dublin. The South American woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, applied for the order at Dublin District Court. In evidence, she recounted how after their relationship of a couple of years ended a few weeks ago, her ex started following her. The student told the court she was afraid, and alleged, "He is saying he will attack me." Asked if he had followed her regularly, she said he had done twice in the previous week, once to work, and after school. Giving evidence with the assistance of an interpreter, the visibly upset student said that he was threatening her, following her to school, to her home, and to her job. They did not have any children. Her former partner did not attend the scheduled hearing to contest the claims against him. Judge Anthony Halpin accepted the sworn evidence tendered by the woman. He granted the civil restraining order to protect her from the man's activities. He stipulated that he must not follow, watch, or beset the applicant or put her in fear or use language that threatened the applicant. He also warned that the man would not communicate with her. Judge Halpin directed gardai to serve a copy of the order on the man, which is to remain in force for three years. Breaching it can result in the subject of the order being brought to court, jailed for up to a year, and a maximum €4,000 fine. The restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a remedy for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can last up to five years but may be shorter depending on the presiding judge's assessment.
Dublin Live
11-06-2025
- Dublin Live
Pair arrested in connection with St Stephen's Day Blanchardstown hit-and-run that killed couple
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Two people have been arrested in connection with the St Stephen's Day Blanchardstown hit-and-run that killed a married couple. Anthony "Anto" Hogg (39) and his wife, Georgina Hogg-Moore (38) from Whitestown Avenue, Blanchardstown suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Blanchardstown Road North near the entrance to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin at around 5.45pm on December 26, 2024. The couple, who had two children, had been out shopping at the post-Christmas sales and were on their way home when the collision occurred. A neighbour of the deceased, John Halpin (45) of Whitestown Avenue, Blanchardstown, was charged at a sitting of Dublin District Court on December 30, 2024 with four offences including two counts of dangerous driving causing death. Mr Halpin was also accused of two counts of hit-and-run and failing to offer assistance at the scene of the incident. Mr Halpin was subsequently granted bail at a sitting of Cloverhill District Court in early January subject to strict conditions. Gardaí have now confirmed a man and a woman were arrested this morning in connection with the incident. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí continue to investigate the fatal hit-and-run road traffic collision involving a car and pedestrians that occurred at Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, on Thursday evening, 26th December 2024. "Gardaí have arrested two persons this morning in relation to this fatal road traffic collision. A man, aged 40 years was arrested in connection with this investigation and he is currently detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda station in the Dublin. "A female, aged in her 30s was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. Investigations ongoing." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Journal
06-06-2025
- The Journal
Grandmother handed three-year restraining order over online abuse of daughter and grandchildren
A JUDGE HAS imposed a three-year restraining order on a Dublin grandmother, barring her from posting online about her daughter after she allegedly harassed her and wished death on her grandchildren. The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, resorted to using anti-stalking laws and applied for the order at Dublin District Court. However, her estranged mother did not attend the scheduled hearing to contest the claims against her. 'My mother is harassing me,' her adult daughter told Judge Anthony Halpin, adding that she had been subjected to online abuse, including 'she hopes my kids die'. Asked why this happened, the woman, in her twenties, explained that she had been taken into care when she was young and there had been a fractured relationship since. She told the court that the posts started nine weeks ago after five years of no contact. Advertisement The woman believed her mother was 'retaliating for having no contact with or access to her grandchildren'. On reviewing printouts of the posts, Judge Halpin stated he was satisfied the woman had made a reasonable case for a civil restraining order barring unwanted contact and online posts about the applicant. He held that it was appropriate to compel the respondent from harassing or placing her daughter in fear. Judge Halpin said gardaí would serve the order on the grandmother, and the court had a wide range of sanctions available if she broke the terms. Breaching them can result in the subject of the order being brought to court, jailed for up to a year and a maximum €4,000 fine. The restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a remedy for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can run for up to five years, but may be shorter depending on the presiding judge's assessment.
