Bridal Wear Retailer Finned for Offering to Supply a Falsely Described Wedding Dress

Miriam Burney, who trades as Sheridan B Design, 4 Barrack Street, Armagh, was fined yesterday a total of £750 plus £172 costs for offering to supply a Mathyro wedding dress which was falsely described.

Ms Burney was acquitted of four offences under section 1(1)(a) and three under section 1(1)(b) of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, relating to allegations of false descriptions in respect of other wedding dresses.

The conviction followed a prosecution brought by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Trading Standards Service (TSS). It followed an investigation that a ‘Mathyro’ designer dress had been misdescribed.

Julie Harrison of Trading Standards Service said: “Descriptions applied to goods must be accurate and not misleading in any way. Traders who mislead consumers by using false descriptions will be investigated, and dealt with in the courts. In this case, the bride-to-be had to arrange to source her wedding dress at short notice from another supplier, causing her much distress and worry.”

Anyone who suspects they may have been misled by descriptions of goods should report it to Consumerline on 0845 600 6262 or 028 9025 3900 or log onto the Consumerline website at

Notes to Editors

1. Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, traders must describe goods or services they supply correctly. It is an offence to supply goods or services which are falsely described. The Act is enforced by DETI’s Trading Standards Service.
2. On 26 May 2008, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 came into force and replaced sections of the Trade Description Act 1968 in relation to falsely describing goods and services. This case was taken under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 as it was the legislation in force on the date the complaints were made to TSS.
3. For media enquiries, please contact the DETI Press Office, tel 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.