Judge urges people to stop running to solicitors as mother fails in €75k toy theft defamation claim

A 21-year-old mother, who claimed she was defamed when shop staff accused her of stealing a toy rattle for her year old child, has been ordered to pay the legal costs of an unsuccessful claim against Dealz Retailing Ireland and its security firm.

Naomi Sunner’s €75,000 defamation claim was thrown out by Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court. The judge said it followed in such cases that unsuccessful claimants should pay the legal costs of defendants.