Bandon retailer sorry for theft suggestion

A Bandon shopkeeper has apologised and agreed to pay undisclosed damages to a bank official after admitting he used language and behaved in such a way as to wrongly suggest she had stolen articles from his discount store.

In an apology read to the High Court, Peter Appelbe said his conduct and language on December 20, 2012, both in his Price Savers shop at South Main St, Bandon, Co Cork, and in the town’s Ulster Bank, where Maireád O’Carroll worked, suggested she had stolen articles from his shop that day.

“I admit that any such suggestion was wholly without foundation and I regret that I used such language and conducted myself in such a manner,” Mr Appelbe’s apology stated.

“I greatly regret the distress and embarrassment which I caused. I admit there was no truth in what was suggested.”

The purpose of the apology, the court heard, was “to retract any such suggestion and to apologise wholeheartedly for what was said and done”.

It also stated Mr Appelbe had paid a sum of money which Ms O’Carroll was prepared to accept, in consideration for her agreement to cease further prosecution of her legal proceedings.

The apology also stated Mr Appelbe has undertaken not to publish or repeat, or cause to be repeated in any form or medium whatsoever, any words likely to be understood as containing any like suggestion of imputation concerning Ms O’Carroll.

The apology was read to the court on consent of the sides by Jerry Healy, counsel for Ms O’Carroll, as part of the settlement of her defamation proceedings brought against Mr Appelbe arising from the events of December 20, 2012.

Also on consent of the sides, Mr Justice Colm Mac Eochaidh agreed to make an order striking out the proceedings.

In her action, Ms O’Carroll, of Ahaguilla North, Clonakilty, Co Cork, claimed damages, including aggravated damages, against Mr Appelbe over events which occurred after she had been browsing during her lunch break in the Price Savers shop.