Woman loses defamation case over Red Bull ‘shoplift’ claim
A woman’s defamation action over her claim she had been accused of shoplifting a can of Red Bull has been dismissed by the High Court.
Winnie O’Donnell (54), of Tor An Rí Lane, Balgaddy, Lucan, Co Dublin, sued Musgrave Ireland, operators of a Centra Store at Griffeen Way, Lucan.
Her relative Winnie Reilly, of the same address, also sued for defamation over the same alleged incident on October 6, 2017, but that case was later withdrawn.
The court heard the pair went into the shop drinking cans of Red Bull which they had bought elsewhere.
When Ms O’Donnell got to the checkout with items she wanted to buy, she claimed an assistant manager went over to the security man and had a brief conversation.
When the assistant returned, Ms O’Donnell said she asked her: “Did you just accuse me of stealing this Red Bull?” She said the assistant replied: “‘Yeh’, and she had a smirk on.”
Mr Justice Tony O’Connor said there was no evidence she was accused of shoplifting.
Irish Independent