Brown Thomas and Arnotts avoided criminal charges for false Black Friday ads by paying €1,000 to charity and legal fees.

Brown Thomas and Arnotts avoided a criminal conviction for misleading Black Friday pricing in 2024 after complying with a court order to pay €1,000 to charity and cover legal fees. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission found multiple products, including Samsung and Sony electronics, were advertised with inflated original prices despite lower recent sales. Ireland’s 2022 pricing law requires discounts to reflect the lowest price in the prior 30 days and clear display of that price. Judge Anthony Halpin dismissed the case after the retailers met the court’s requirements, following previous penalties for similar violations by other retailers.