Woman sues Lidl for £6000 over child being accused of theft.

Run_to_da_hills · 28-07-2010 11:24PM #1

I saw this in the media today.

A 6 year old child was accused of swiping a pack of crisps at a Lidl branch in North Dublin. He was pulled aside and quizzed by staff after checkout. His mother was able to show receipts proving the item were purchased. Staff continued to be rude.

Stupid move on behalf of Lidl staff for jumping to conclusions and not examining CCTV footage before they made the move. I hope those responsible get the sack.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/7914309/Boy-5-wins-6000-in-Lidl-defamation-case.html

wmpdd3 · 28-07-2010 11:43PM

Happens every day only you don't about it, but you pay for it as the €6000 is added to your shopping.

Business cost of retailing.

You pay for the actual thieves and the compo paid to those who 'suffered distress and inconvenience'.

Guy:Incognito · 28-07-2010 11:48PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Stupid move on behalf of Lidl staff for jumping to conclusions and not examining CCTV footage before they made the move. I hope those responsible get the sack.

Are surveillance camers not evil? :P

BTW not to nitpick but he was 5 and the amount was STG£6,000 in the article so more in €

Love this bit

"The boy’s barrister, Alison McIntyre, told the court that Tadhg’s reputation had also been discredited by the false accusation"

His reputation?:D

listermint · 28-07-2010 11:53PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I saw this in the media today.

A 6 year old child was accused of swiping a pack of crisps at a Lidl branch in North Dublin. He was pulled aside and quizzed by staff after checkout. His mother was able to show receipts proving the item were purchased. Staff continued to be rude.

Stupid move on behalf of Lidl staff for jumping to conclusions and not examining CCTV footage before they made the move. I hope those responsible get the sack.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/7914309/Boy-5-wins-6000-in-Lidl-defamation-case.html

I believe the amount was £6000 not Euro. I hate this distress and defamation crap..

Run_to_da_hills · 29-07-2010 12:05AM

Stekelly wrote: »

Are surveillance camers not evil? :P

BTW not to nitpick but he was 5 and the amount was STG£6,000 in the article so more in €

Love this bit

"The boy’s barrister, Alison McIntyre, told the court that Tadhg’s reputation had also been discredited by the false accusation"

His reputation?:D

Edited.

At least the child should be able to afford a decent motorbike when he reaches the age of 18.

The £6000 should come from the pockets of those working in security. They are employed to scrutinise opportunist thefts. The child wasn't caught stealing. It was just assumed that because he was unattended with the pack of crisps in his hand that he had nicked them.

foggy_lad · 29-07-2010 12:06AM

the amount was €7500 as it was in an irish court, the british papers have used their own auld currency as ours. and the case was as much about wrongful imprisonment and assault as it was about the actual items the child was accused of taking.

this piece at the end of the telegraphs article makes for very interesting reading

In November 2008 the German discount supermarket chain apologised after workers at one of its Swedish stores deliberately poured cleaning fluids in rubbish bins to stop the homeless rummaging for food.

stores like heatons and the other english chains cut up cloths and footwear they cant sell instead of giving it to homeless charities.

baldbear · 29-07-2010 12:07AM

Rediculous decision by the courts. Reputation of a 6 year old damaged, my arse. I know in big shops like Tesco some certain types go in pick something up in full view of security hide them and when they walk off put the item down.
When they are approached by the security and searched they kick up hell and end up trying to sue.

Anyway the young fella got a crisp amount of cash in the end.

Guy:Incognito · 29-07-2010 12:27AM

foggy_lad wrote: »

this piece at the end of the telegraphs article makes for very interesting reading.

I dotn see what the issue is with them not wantign homeless people rummaging in bins around their stores.

I also have no issue with what Heatons do re cuttign up clothes. I hate this thing thats sprung up in the last few years where people and companies are expected to give to charities or be looked down on. If I choose to burn money rather than give it to charity thats my choice.

MagicMarker · 29-07-2010 12:30AM

baldbear wrote: »

Rediculous decision by the courts. Reputation of a 6 year old damaged, my arse. I know in big shops like Tesco some certain types go in pick something up in full view of security hide them and when they walk off put the item down.
When they are approached by the security and searched they kick up hell and end up trying to sue.

Can you not see the fundamental difference between what you describe and the case at hand?

Cabaal · 29-07-2010 07:51AM

Compensation culture,
this country is turning into the states when it comes to the compensation side of things,

Run_to_da_hills · 29-07-2010 10:01AM

Cabaal wrote: »

Compensation culture,
this country is turning into the states when it comes to the compensation side of things,

Its down to the ability of people making easy money without having to get up off their asses, and especially more so with the recession and people out of work.

Tabnabs · 29-07-2010 10:14AM

More wise words from the peanut gallery.

If a poster came on here and said their 5 year old boy was wrongly accused of stealing a bag of crisps in a Lidl store, was also falsely imprisoned and assaulted when a shop assistant grabbed his arm the same people would be screaming SUE, SUE, SUE!

Of course he has a reputation that can be harmed/discredit, we all do. Just because he is under the age of 18 does that mean he has fewer rights in law?

As for a compo' culture, "a settlement offer of €7,500 and costs by Lidl", he accepted their offer and what he is entitled to in the eyes of Irish legal system.

There must be standards in how these situations are dealt with and these must be upheld.

Head The Wall · 29-07-2010 11:08AM

On newstalk this morning they commented on another case in court yesterday. A kid suffered corneal damage while in a shop where a bulb had exploded and he got hit in the eye.

He received €7,000!!!! for an actual injury where he could have been blinded. Makes the other award look even more ridiculous

dudara · 29-07-2010 01:00PM

Not a Consumer Issue

dudara

bonerm · 29-07-2010 01:06PM

I was once falsely accused of shoplifting in the old Virgin Megastore on Aston Quay, Dublin and was even escorted out of the building by some fat thick as pigshít Arab fúcker from their security team. I was delighted when I saw the place had out of business less than 6 months later.

Ever since then I've had a bugbear about these inbred security guards pushing their weight and accusing people of shoplifting around without any proof. So I'm not gonna begrudge that woman her 6k.

Zadkiel · 29-07-2010 01:13PM

Dyflin wrote: »

More wise words from the peanut gallery.

If a poster came on here and said their 5 year old boy was wrongly accused of stealing a bag of crisps in a Lidl store, was also falsely imprisoned and assaulted when a shop assistant grabbed his arm the same people would be screaming SUE, SUE, SUE!

Of course he has a reputation that can be harmed/discredit, we all do. Just because he is under the age of 18 does that mean he has fewer rights in law?

As for a compo' culture, "a settlement offer of €7,500 and costs by Lidl", he accepted their offer and what he is entitled to in the eyes of Irish legal system.

There must be standards in how these situations are dealt with and these must be upheld.

There should be, I'm more alarmed by the fact that she didn't miss her five year old son wasn't with her until she was in her car. She was quoted as saying this in yesterdays paper. Can't find a link.:( If she was supervising him the whole thing would never have happened

Minstrel27 · 29-07-2010 01:17PM

€7,500???

That's nuts.

gaz wac · 29-07-2010 01:33PM

Zadkiel wrote: »

There should be, I'm more alarmed by the fact that she didn't miss her five year old son wasn't with her until she was in her car. She was quoted as saying this in yesterdays paper. Can't find a link.:( If she was supervising him the whole thing would never have happened

She was on the radio this morning. She paid for her stuff and gave the boy the crisps. he was walking beside her while she was pushing the trolly. he stopped to open the multi packet, but she didnt notice. She was only a few feet out the door when she went to look for him. ( cant blame her, its was a couple of seconds and is human !! mammies have a lot to deal with

)

She called out his name and someone said " are you looking for a little boy?. he's after been dragged back into the store by the check out girl "..not a security guard. Woman showed her receipt and gave out to the checkout girl and manager.

In fairness, she was well entitled to, he deserves the payout and Im glad it was in the papers. Discracefull behaviour by the worker :mad:

Zadkiel · 29-07-2010 01:37PM

gaz wac wrote: »

She was on the radio this morning. She paid for her stuff and gave the boy the crisps. he was walking beside her while she was pushing the trolly. he stopped to open the multi packet, but she didnt notice. She was only a few feet out the door when she went to look for him. ( cant blame her, its was a couple of seconds and is human !! mammies have a lot to deal with )

She called out his name and someone said " are you looking for a little boy?. he's after been dragged back into the store by the check out girl "..not a security guard. Woman showed her receipt and gave out to the checkout girl and manager.

In fairness, she was well entitled to, he deserves the payout and Im glad it was in the papers. Discracefull behaviour by the worker :mad:

According to the paper she was in her car when she noticed he wasn't there, so thanks for clearing that up. I dont agree with the actions of the shop by the way.

up for anything · 29-07-2010 01:39PM

Any shop that deals with an unattended five year old like that needs a good smack/court case. They should have been more worried about his safety than frightening the shite of him and upsetting his mother. Time enough for the strong arm tactics when she couldn't prove she had paid for the crisps! :rolleyes:

Drake66 · 29-07-2010 01:43PM

Badly trained staff increases the chances of things like this happening. I don't feel the least bit of sympathy for Lidl.

Agent Smith · 29-07-2010 02:31PM

the kid prob just wanted more crisps in fairness

gizmo · 29-07-2010 02:39PM

gaz wac wrote: »

She was on the radio this morning. She paid for her stuff and gave the boy the crisps. he was walking beside her while she was pushing the trolly. he stopped to open the multi packet, but she didnt notice. She was only a few feet out the door when she went to look for him. ( cant blame her, its was a couple of seconds and is human !! mammies have a lot to deal with )

She called out his name and someone said " are you looking for a little boy?. he's after been dragged back into the store by the check out girl "..not a security guard. Woman showed her receipt and gave out to the checkout girl and manager.

And you think that warranted a court case and compensation? Would an apology from the staff in question not have made them feel equally better?

pickarooney · 29-07-2010 02:56PM

Minstrel27 wrote: »

€7,500???

That's nuts.

No, crisps. For nuts it's only about €3,800.

gaz wac · 29-07-2010 03:48PM

gizmo wrote: »

And you think that warranted a court case and compensation? Would an apology from the staff in question not have made them feel equally better?

He was a minor who was :

Illegally detained and falsely imprisoned

Accused of theft ( incorrectly )…now remember, he is 5 !!

And received bodily harm..

so they just say.." ehh sorry about that, here is a €10 voucher off your next shop" ....

im sorry, but no........ :rolleyes:

phill106 · 29-07-2010 04:02PM

Stekelly wrote: »

I dotn see what the issue is with them not wantign homeless people rummaging in bins around their stores.

If you think of it, they were poisoning food they knew homeless people were going to eat. Still think its ok?

MistyCheese · 29-07-2010 04:39PM

Dyflin wrote: »

Just because he is under the age of 18 does that mean he has fewer rights in law?

Well, yes. A minor has many, many, many less rights in the eyes of the law, such as the right to take out a loan, the right to buy alcohol, the right to sign a contract, the right to watch certain movies...

Mr Jinx · 29-07-2010 04:47PM

I know this kid, he already has a reputation as a bedwetter and a cry baby.

derfderf · 29-07-2010 05:02PM

Mr Jinx wrote: »

I know this kid, he already has a reputation as a bedwetter and a cry baby.

on the mobile, have to thank when i get home.

Einhard · 29-07-2010 05:25PM

I was held by security in the front of the Centra in Ranelagh a few years back, having been accused of thieving a large bottle of coke. The manager was very aggressive, and was at pains to point out that he intended filing a full prosecution against me. The clerk who had served me less than a minute before denied having done so, and I was held by the security man as the manager called the cops. I eventually asked him to check the security cameras, which he reluctantly did, only to come back and give the most cursory, forced apology. All this happened in the middle of the day, with people coming in and out, including my neighbours and people who knew me in some way.

I told the manager I thought he was a stupid, ignorant fucking cunt, and that I would never shop in his store again. That was it. The idea of suing him, or the store, or demanding that he lose his job would have seemed as ridiculous then as it does now. People can't expect money every time they are inconvenienced or feel "distress".

My name is URL · 29-07-2010 05:29PM

What's the big hoopla? People get paid compensation every single day and it's not reported by the media. I think they were right to look for compo in this case, he's a 6 yo ffs.. even if he was stealing the crisps there'd be no need for the staff to manhandle him

Woman sues Lidl for £6000 over child being accused of theft.

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