A Dublin woman who claimed she was accused at a post office of trying to pass off counterfeit notes has lost a €38,000 damages claim for defamation in the Circuit Civil Court.
The court heard postmistress Bridget Tierney had been concerned when Winnie McDonagh arrived at Cappagh Post Office, Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre, Cappagh, Finglas, Dublin, on the morning of May 2nd, 2012, with a large sum of cash in bundles without knowing how much she had.
Judge Groarke told barrister Philip Fennell his client, Ms Tierney, had also felt that something was strange about the notes as she counted the €3,850 sum.
The court heard the post office note checker had been broken for several days as its bulb was gone.
Ms McDonagh, of Berryfield Crescent, Dublin, had been a customer at the post office for almost 20 years.
Garda check
Ms Tierney, after counting the notes several times, had called gardaí, who took the money away to have it checked at Garda Headquarters. They later confirmed it was genuine.
Ms McDonagh had told the court her son, Thomas, had asked her to put a sum of money, which he had withdrawn from his bank account, into her postal account.
She claimed Ms Tierney had asked her where did the money come from, and had told her that €2,500 out of the €3,850 was counterfeit. She had felt embarrassed as there were customers on the premises.
Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said it was unclear, due to conflicting evidence, as to what had actually happened, but he was satisfied Ms McDonagh had not been detained unlawfully on the premises.
He said although the matter could have been dealt in another way by Ms Tierney, she had been entitled to call gardaí, as evidence showed that sometimes notes can give the impression of being counterfeit.
He dismissed Ms McDonagh’s claim and made no order regarding the legal costs.