Dublin man's alleged duck tale thrown out by court

A  member of the traveling community from Dublin who claimed his character was defamed by a security guard at Smyths Toy Superstore has had his case thrown out.

Twenty-eight-year-old, David Mongan from Dublin claimed he was wrongly accused of stealing a toy duck by the security guard at the store.

His action, which was in its third day before a High Court jury, was struck out by Mr Justice Eamon De Valera following legal argument made on behalf of the defendants.

Mr Mongan claimed he was defamed when a security guard at the store on the Belgard Road, Tallaght asked him in a loud voice, in front of other shoppers: "Where's the duck? I know you have it. I want to see it. Take it out. I'd like to see where the duck is and what have you done with it."

Mongan, of Owendoher Haven, Ballyboden, Rathfarnham Dublin 16, brought a High Court action seeking damages against Smyth's Toys, Smyth's Toy's Holdings, and Smyth's Toys Properties Ltd, and security company Goldforce Ltd T/a Goldforce Security Management.

He alleged that following the incident that took place in November of 2007 he suffered from depression, which became so bad that at one point he considered taking his own life. The defendants had denied all the claims against them.

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