“Charlie Malzard has been a stalwart of the federation both in Kilkenny and nationally for many years and the Vintners’ Federation is delighted to see his good name being vindicated and his reputation upheld.” — That is according to the CEO of the Vintners’ Federation Padraig Cribben, who was speaking after Mr Malzard was cleared of charges relating to allegations in 2007 of watered-down vodka at his pub in Stonyford, Co Kilkenny. It has since come to light that two of three samples taken from a bottle of vodka in his pub were perfectly legal following independent tests.
Mr Malzard is anxious that his business be publicly cleared of any wrong-doing following the negative publicity which followed the initial enquiry.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has since called for an enquiry into how the National Consumer Agency carry out their activities as a result of the case involving Mr Malzard.
Speaking after the recent appeal victory, the federation chief executive, Padraig Cribben said, “it is incomprehensible that an organisation like the National Consumer Agency could leave the original findings on its website up until the last minute when it was clear that there was an appeal in hand and that there were question marks over the original findings.
He added, “this smacks of vindictiveness and of a policy to pursue an agenda rather than to act in a fair and even-handed manner. This whole episode has caused tremendous stress and strain to the Malzard family which was both unwarranted and unfair. There has to be a balance between the requirement to keep the consumer informed and due diligence and justice.
Mr Cribben remarked that it would appear that some organisations see it more important to pursue an agenda rather than to behave in an objective manner and said that this is not acceptable.
“I am now calling on the National Consumer Agency to give similar prominence and time to the new situation as they gave to the original findings.”
