A CO GALWAY mother and daughter today settled separate €75,000 cases of alleged defamation against Dunnes Stores on terms that were not publicly divulged in court.
Elizabeth Nuga and her daughter, Afolashade Nuga – both of Gallagher’s Lane, Glenbrack, Gort – had claimed staff at the Dunnes Stores branch at Briar Hill, Co Galway, wrongly accused them of taking a €9 bottle of wine from the shop.
They claimed in the Circuit Civil Court that they had been in the store on New Year’s Eve in 2013 and after leaving had been approached by an employee who asked where the bottle of wine was.
The Nugas alleged that the words “The wine that I saw you put into your bag” and “I know you have that bottle of wine and the guards are on the way” were spoken during the alleged confrontation.
They also alleged that they had been detained until the arrival of the gardaí, and taken to the garda station until CCTV records were reviewed, before they were released.
Struck out
Dunnes Stores delivered full defences in both cases in which they denied that the Nugas had been defamed or that their detention in the garda station had been at the behest of the store.
The company stated that a member of staff had attempted to speak to the couple about a bottle of wine but claimed they had become aggressive when spoken to, which had led to the intervention of the gardaí.
Barrister John Nolan, who appeared with Paul W Tracey solicitors for the Nugas, told Judge Linnane that both cases had been settled and could be struck out with no order.
Claimants are allowed to sue in the circuit area where an alleged incident occurred or in the jurisdiction where a defendant resides or has its registered offices or headquarters.
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