A roundup of today's other business news in brief

Indemnity cover for solicitors

Solicitors will receive professional indemnity insurance quotes from the profession’s biggest insurer this week, according to a circular sent by the Law Society to each firm of solicitors on Friday, Legal Affairs Editor Carol Coulter reports.

Law Society president Gerry Doherty told members that the Solicitors Mutual Defence Fund had said it would be issuing a substantial number of quotes by post on Friday and yesterday with the balance issued by post today.

He added that even after November 30th it may still be possible to obtain cover.

Director in North struck off for eight years

An Armagh businessman whose furniture sales company collapsed with debts of more than £1.1 million (€1.22 million) has been banned from becoming a director for eight years in the North.

Vivion Philip Connolly (53), Woodford Drive, Armagh, was a director and owner of Connolly Fancy Goods Ltd which traded on both sides of the Border.

The Department of Enterprise and Trade in the North brought the disqualification against Mr Connolly on the basis of unfit conduct on a number of counts.

These included allowing the business to trade when it was insolvent, and misusing bank accounts in First Trust, HSBC and Ulster Bank. Mr Connolly was also found to have filed late annual accounts.

Oglesby & Butler revenues up 27% to 2.9m

Carlow-based toolmaker Oglesby & Butler grew revenues by 27 per cent to €2.9 million in the six-month period to the end of September 2009.

However, it also reported an operating loss of €3,000 for the same period.

The Dublin-listed company said the jump in sales was largely due to the success of its new range of herbal vaporisers now being sold worldwide.