BANK ISSUED FAKE NOTES FOR BOY’S DREAM TRIP
Son’s birthday ruined as father held by police at Old Trafford over dud cash from Bank of Ireland
A DREAM birthday trip to see Manchester United play was ruined after a nine-year-old boy and his father were quizzed by police over counterfeit cash supplied by their local Bank of Ireland, the High Court has heard. Shane Nolan and his son Daniel, from
Crossneen, Co. Carlow, were escorted to a Manchester police station after the rogue sterling notes were spotted as they attempted to buy football shirts and other memorabilia in the club store at Old Trafford.
They were subsequently released without charge but birthday boy Daniel was too upset to return to watch his favourite team play, the court heard.
Eugene Gleeson SC, for the family, told Judge Garrett Simons that the bank had admitted liability for the incident, and had offered €40,000 to settle the boy’s claim for damages for defamation, and infliction of suffering.
It also settled a claim from Shane Nolan on undisclosed terms.
Giving the background to the case, Mr Gleeson said: ‘On March 2, 2019, Daniel’s parents decided to bring him to Old Trafford to see Manchester United play Southampton for his ninth birthday, a match United won 3-2. On the previous day, his father had purchased sterling at the Bagenalstown branch of the Bank of Ireland. The currency was forged. ‘When the plaintiff and his father went to the Manchester United shop to purchase jerseys and other gear, they presented the items at the counter. ‘A salesperson saw the flaws, and the police were called.’
Mr Gleeson said the pair were taken to a nearby police station, where Mr Nolan was questioned while his son was kept in the care of a police officer. ‘What should have been a very pleasant afternoon turned out to be very unpleasant,’ Mr Gleeson said.
He said the police completed their questioning ‘with customary efficiency’, and offered to drive
Bank of Ireland had issued counterfeits
Daniel and his father back to Old Trafford. But he said the young boy just wanted to go home on the first ferry out of Holyhead, which is what they did.
The court was told that Daniel had since lost interest in football, no longer wanted to watch Manchester United matches or play the game himself, and had suffered from anxiety and stress.
Mr Gleeson said he may require counselling, ‘to explain that things like this can happen even when everyone is doing their best’.
He said it was a ‘tribute to the bank’ that the case had been dealt with so swiftly, just weeks after the incident occurred.
Compensation, including aggravated and punitive damages, was claimed for defamation against the governor and company of the Bank of Ireland. Damages were also sought for breach of contract, negligence and breach of duty, including the intentional infliction of emotional suffering.
The High Court must approve settlements made for children under the age of 18, acting in the child’s best interests.
Judge Simons said he had no difficulty with approving the payment of €40,000 in damages to Daniel Nolan.