Get back to that shop and demand to see the manager . I would have refused to leave the counter until the manager came to see me , and if necessary i would have called the garda too . The shop wouldn't hesitate to do the same if you were shoplifting . For all you know the assistant may have done this before . How many hrs would you have to work to get 50 euro , and if your boss left you short , would you just let him off ?