Mayo jewellers punished after inspectors uncover consumer law breach

A Mayo jewellery store has been caught up in a major nationwide crackdown by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which has taken enforcement action against traders and influencers across Ireland for breaching consumer protection laws.

The CCPC revealed today that 18 enforcement actions have been taken against traders in Mayo, Cork, Donegal, Dublin and Offaly following in-store and online inspections and investigations.

High-profile figures were also named in the enforcement sweep with Conor McGregor issued a compliance notice for failing to disclose the commercial nature of content on his Instagram account, while influencer Suzanne Jackson was also served with a compliance notice for the same.

Retailers and pubs were also found to be in breach of consumer law, with fixed payment notices issued to Circle K stores in Dublin and Tallaght for failing to display prices, as were Flannels in Cork and a Centra in Offaly for similar issues, and several Temple Bar pubs were also served notices for failing to display price lists.

Temptation Jewellers at Silverbridge Shopping Centre on the Knock Road in Claremorris was issued with a compliance notice after inspectors found the business was failing to display a mandatory hallmarking notice for customers.

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The Mayo jewellers case relates specifically to hallmarking law, which is designed to protect customers buying gold, silver and other precious metals.

Under Regulation 7 of the Consumer Protection (Consumer Information) (Articles of Precious Metals) Regulations 2019, "A trader who supplies an article of precious metal from premises to which the public has access shall exhibit a notice in the form set out in the Schedule".

The law also sets out exactly how that notice must be displayed.

Regulation 8 states that the notice must:
"(a) be located in a position so as to be clearly visible and easily accessible to a consumer before or immediately after entering the premises,
(b) be displayed on not less than A4 size paper, and
(c) contain letters and figures at least three millimetres in height and of proportionate width, which are not hidden, obscured, or interrupted by other pictorial or written matter."

Inspectors found that this notice was not on display at the Claremorris premises.

"During an inspection at their premises at 'Temptation Jewellers', Silverbridge Shopping Centre, Knock Road, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, F12 E8C7, Western Flower Wholesalers Temptation Limited, a trader who supplies an article of precious metal from their premises to which the public has access, the CCPC found the trader to be in breach of failing to exhibit a notice in the form set out in the Schedule to the relevant legislation in a position so as to be clearly visible and easily accessible to a consumer before or immediately after entering the premises as required by Regulations 7 and 8 of the relevant legislation," the CCPC said.

The CCPC served a compliance notice on the business on August 29, 2025, directing it to display the notice correctly inside the shop.

"Western Flower Wholesalers Temptation Limited, a trader, is hereby required to display a notice in the form set out in the Schedule to the relevant legislation (in accordance with Regulation 7 of the relevant legislation) at your premises and to display it in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 8 of the relevant legislation."

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Patrick Kenny, member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, said traders across all sectors must follow the rules.

"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," he said.

He warned that the CCPC will take further action where traders fail to fix breaches.

"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," Mr Kenny added.

The watchdog said consumer reports play a key role in identifying non-compliance.

"Consumer reports to our helpline and industry intelligence help us to identify patterns of non-compliance, and we’re grateful to everyone who takes the time to share valuable information with us," Mr Kenny said.