A second Citroën dealer has been charged with price fixing on foot of an investigation by the Competition Authority.

Duffy Motors, trading as PG Duffy & Sons, and Patrick Duffy, a director of the company, faced price-fixing charges in Naas District Court yesterday relating to the time period June 24th, 1997, to June 18th, 2002, and again on January 27th, 2004.

At the same court yesterday, a Dublin-based car dealership's director also faced charges. James Bursey of Millbridge Avenue in Naas, director of Bursey Peppard Ltd, St Agnes Road, Crumlin Cross, Dublin, faced four charges in connection with the same investigation by the authority.

Mr Bursey is charged with entering into an agreement, the object of which was "preventing, restriction or distortion of competition in the trade of motor vehicles by directly or indirectly fixing the selling price of Citroën motor vehicles", between July 8th, 1996, and June 30th, 2002, and with implementing such an agreement. Two similar charges against him relate to July 1st, 2002, to September 13th, 2003. Earlier this week, Bursey Peppard Ltd appeared in Dublin District Court on foot of four charges of price fixing.

Duffy Motors and Mr Duffy faced similar charges. Duffy Motors have a Citroën dealership based on the Naas Road in Newbridge, Co Kildare, which has received the national Citroën sales dealership of the year award.

Judge John O'Neill adjourned the hearing yesterday and granted an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions for a six-week remand for preparation of the book of evidence.

The case is due to be heard again before Naas District Court on February 20th.