A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy who was wrongly accused of stealing a bag of crisps in a Lidl store has won €7,500 damages for defamation of character. Barrister Alison McIntyre told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday that Tadhg Mooney was also falsely imprisoned and assaulted when a shop assistant grabbed his arm.
She said Tadhg, Braemore Drive, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was in the local Lidl store with his mother, Rachel, on 24th June 2009, when the incident occurred.
In defamation proceedings against Lidl Ireland Ltd, the court was told that Tadhg, who is now aged six, had been caused to suffer distress, inconvenience and injury to his credit and reputation.
Ms McIntyre told Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery that she was recommending acceptance by the court of a settlement offer of €7,500 and costs by Lidl. The judge approved the offer.