Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 30094Regulatory offence (failure to comply with communications code of conduct) · Co. Dublin

Vodafone sentenced for code of conduct breach at Dublin District Court

Vodafone, a telecom company, was investigated by ComReg following a high number of customer complaints in 2020. A sample of cases from May to November 2020 showed that in all sampled cases, customers were unable to log a complaint at first point of contact, breaching a 2019 code of practice requiring complaints to be logged and acknowledged with a reference number within two working days. ComReg issued seven summonses with two counts each, and Vodafone entered guilty pleas to seven sample charges at Dublin District Court before Judge Anthony Halpin on 14 September 2021. The judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, ordering Vodafone to pay €10,000 in prosecution costs and donate €10,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity. The case was adjourned until 7 October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Vodafone customers were unable to log a complaint at first point of contact, breaching a 2019 ComReg code of practice requiring complaints to be logged and acknowledged with a reference number within two working days.
When
A sample of cases from May to November 2020 was taken by ComReg.
Investigation
ComReg investigated a high number of customer complaints in 2020.
Charges
ComReg issued seven summonses against Vodafone with two counts each, under Regulations 27(1) and 27(2) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users' Rights) Regulations 2011.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Anthony Halpin.
  • Guilty pleas were entered to seven sample charges and the remaining seven were struck out.
Sentence
  • The judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, constituting a dismissal, and ordered Vodafone to pay €10,000 in prosecution costs.
  • Vodafone was ordered to donate €10,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity.
Other details
  • The case was adjourned until 7 October.
  • Vodafone had prior convictions resulting in fines from prosecutions by ComReg and the Data Protection Commission.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatVodafone customers were given the runaround when they attempted to log complaints (rte.ie)
  • whatA 2019 ComReg code of practice required the service provider to log the complaint at first point of contact and acknowledge it with a reference number within two working days (rte.ie)
  • whatIn all sampled cases, customers were not able to log a complaint at first point of contact (rte.ie)
  • whenA sample of cases from May to November 2020 were taken by ComReg (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was into a high number of customer complaints in 2020 (rte.ie)
  • chargeProsecution was under Regulations 27(1) and 27(2) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users' Rights) Regulations 2011 (rte.ie)
  • courtComReg issued seven summonses against Vodafone with two counts on each summons (rte.ie)
  • courtVodafone was ordered to pay €10,000 in prosecution costs (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Anthony Halpin (rte.ie)
  • courtGuilty pleas were entered to seven sample charges and the remaining seven were struck out (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned until 7 October (rte.ie)
  • sentenceVodafone was ordered to donate €10,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, which constitutes a dismissal (rte.ie)
  • otherVodafone had prior convictions resulting in fines from prosecutions by ComReg and the Data Protection Commission (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Sep2021
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Vodafone to pay up for giving customers the 'runaround'

    Court hearing where Vodafone entered guilty pleas to seven sample charges and was given a probation order with prosecution costs and a charity donation.

    convicted, Vodafone, namedVodafonevictim