Retail premises in Offaly fined by watchdog over breach of consumer protection law

An Offaly retailer has been cited for breaching consumer protection law as part of new enforcement actions published by The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on Thursday, February 12. 

Midlands Retail Investments Ltd, trading as Leavy’s Centra in Tullamore was fined for failing to display the correct selling price of certain goods offered for sale. 

The convenience store located on Henry Street received two fixed payment notices on December 10 after an inspection was carried out on the premises by the CCPC. 

The CCPC report stated: "Midland Retail Investments Limited trading as Leavy’s Centra, the trader, was required to display the correct selling price of certain goods offered for sale.

During an inspection at the trader’s premises at Leavy’s Centra, Henry Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly the CCPC found the trader to be in breach of this requirement by failing to provide the selling price of a product in accordance with the relevant legislation."

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Several other businesses around the country were cited with consumer legislation breaches by the CCPC for similar offences in relation to the display of prices on their premises. 

This included three pubs in Dublin as well as retailers in Dublin, Cork, Mayo and Donegal. 

Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor and beauty influencer Suzanne Jackson were also served with compliance notices by the CCPC for failing to disclose the commercial nature of some of their posts on Instagram. 

Patrick Kenny, member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said: "Whether you’re a retailer, a publican or an influencer, you must comply with consumer law.

Our officers carry out hundreds of instore and online inspections, sweeps and investigations every year, assessing thousands of products and transactions to make sure consumer rights are upheld across the economy."

Kenny added: "CCPC teams will be actively monitoring compliance by these traders. Failure to obey a compliance notice is an offence, and we will prosecute those who do not correct their practices.

We look forward to the introduction of direct fining powers for the CCPC. The ability to issue significant fines is an essential addition to our enforcement toolkit."