An influencer has been awarded €20,000 (£16,000) in damages after a security guard pulled back the curtain on her in a Zara changing room.
Krystal Joyce from Ireland was trying on clothes in the fashion retailer’s flagship Dublin store while filming content for TikTok when a female security guard abruptly exposed her. Half-dressed at the time, the 20-year-old was then publicly questioned, with the guard implying she was attempting to shoplift.
Krystal took legal action against Zara and its security firm, arguing she was falsely accused and slandered in front of other customers, reports the Mirror. The Dublin Circuit Civil Court ruled in her favour, recognising the distress caused and awarding her compensation of €20,000 – the equivalent of £16,000.
The influencer, who shares insights into her life as an Irish Traveller with 122,000 followers, told the court she was “interrogated” on the shop floor and accused of criminal activity without justification. She also claimed Zara staff falsified a written report about the incident.
During the ordeal, a security worker was overheard repeatedly saying, “I am calling the guards,” while Krystal was allegedly prevented from leaving the store.
Judge Roderick Maguire found Krystal to be a credible witness, noting she regularly tries on clothes in public stores for her social media audience. He condemned Zara’s defense, citing “glaring inconsistencies” in their testimonies.
The court ordered ITX Retail Limited, which operates Zara, to pay Krystal €10,000 in damages, with an additional €10,000 awarded against Bidvest Noonan (ROI) Limited, the security firm involved.