Eason to donate €1k to avoid underage cigarette sale conviction

Eason to donate €1k to avoid underage cigarette sale conviction

Book and newspaper retailer Eason has agreed to donate €1,000 to a suicide prevention charity in order to avoid a criminal conviction for selling cigarettes to a minor.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) brought action against the chain in Dublin District Court, alleging that it had committed an offence under the Public Health Tobacco Act by selling a tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 at a shop in the Irish capital in May.

However, Judge John O’Neill heard that Eason, which has no prior convictions, has instituted new procedures to prevent tobacco products from being mis-sold again.

The chain also advised the HSE of its intention to plead guilty a week in advance of the first hearing.

Because of the circumstances, Judge O’Neill proposed to strike out the charge if Eason paid €1,230 in prosecution costs and made a €1,000 donation to charity Pieta House.

The case has been adjourned for three weeks to allow Eason time to arrange the payments.

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