'Let the community down': Donegal company caught in HSE sting selling vape to a child

A leading West Donegal company has said it 'let down the community' after admitting selling vapes to a child.

Templecrone Cooperative Agricultural Society admitted selling the vape to a 15-year-old child at their Cope store in Falcarragh without asking for identification.

The company appeared before Falcarragh District Court following a 'sting' operation by members of the HSE.

The company was charged that on April, 23, 2025 at at The Cope, Main Street, Falcarragh, Co Donegal did “sell by retail or cause to be sold by retail, a nicotine-inhaling product to a child, being a person who is under the age of 18 years” contrary to section 28(1)(b) and 2 and section 35(1) of the public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Act 2023.

The Court was told that when payment was made for the pineapple-flavoured vape, no attempt was made to obtain the age or identification and the child left the shop and handed the vape to the Environmental Health Officer as part of the operation.

Solicitor for the accused company, Mr Declan McHugh, said his client accepted full responsibility and had agreed to pay the costs of the case which were €2,000.

Chief Executive Officer of the Templecrone Cooperative Agricultural Society, Mr Mark Sharkey, outlined the background to the incident and said his company was a proud part of the local community.

The Cope was founded 120 years ago and employed more than one hundred people.

This was the first time the company was before the court on such a prosecution and it was taking the matter very seriously, said Mr Sharkey.

He said the company operated a very strict policy when it came to the sale of alcohol and tobacco products and that posters had been placed in stores about the underage selling of such products.

Staff were also trained in the sale of such products and are reminded of their responsibilities in this area.

Mr Sharkey said the particular staff member who sold the product to the child on the day had been feeling unwell, was a good employee and was mortified when the incident occurred.

A full investigation was launched into the sale of the product to a child, he said.

Within 48 hours of the incident, the company had drawn up new training and new guidelines to ensure this would not happen again.

"We have let down the community...something happened and we have to take responsibility for it," added Mr Sharkey.

Judge Emile Daly asked the company CEO what these new measures were.

Judge Daly was told that the age limit to ask for identification when purchasing alcohol or tobacco products had been increased to 25.

Mr McHugh said that considering this was a first offence and also the steps his client had taken since the incident, he was asking the Judge to find the facts proven and strike out the case.

Judge Daly said that on the basis of mitigation including the steps that were taken by the company to ensure this does not happen again, she found the facts proven and struck out the case.

However, she directed the company to make a €300 donation to St Vincent de Paul and adjourned the case for finalisation until December 17th.