A car dealer in County Roscommon has been found guilty of providing false information to customers regarding the history of second-hand cars. Adrian Hardiman of Aughadrestan, Loughglynn, Ballaghaderreen was sentenced to 80 hours of community service instead of three months in prison by Judge Deirdre Gearty at Ballaghaderreen District Court on June 13th. In addition, he was ordered to pay €8,241 in prosecution costs within the next five months.

The case against Hardiman was brought by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) after an investigation revealed that he had misrepresented the mileage of cars being sold. This investigation was initiated following complaints made to the CCPC's helpline in 2020.

Judge Gearty postponed the sentencing on November 8th, 2024, to obtain a Probation and Welfare Report for Hardiman. She also requested victim impact statements from three individuals who had purchased cars with false mileage information. It was disclosed during the court proceedings that Hardiman had compensated the victims with €5,700.

Patrick Kenny, a member of the CCPC, emphasized the seriousness of providing inaccurate information to consumers. He highlighted the importance of consumers being able to trust the information provided by car dealers regarding a vehicle's history and condition.

The CCPC advises consumers to be vigilant when purchasing a car and to utilize their checklist to ensure they are receiving accurate information. They also recommend that traders conduct thorough checks on a car's history to guarantee its safety and roadworthiness before selling it to a consumer.

In a recent report, the CCPC proposed the creation of an online portal that would grant buyers access to essential car history information, such as write-off status and mileage readings. This initiative aims to provide transparency and protect consumers in the second-hand car market.

If consumers suspect they have been misled by a trader, they are encouraged to report it to the CCPC helpline or use the online contact form on CCPC.ie.

For more details on this case, refer to the Roscommon Herald newspaper.