Texaco (Ireland) Ltd reneged on a deal to buy out one of its retailers, the Circuit Civil Court has heard.

Mr Patrick Hilliard, who claimed to have had a 30-year lease from the company on Ballygall Road Filling Station, Finglas, said that following a tenancy dispute a company representative had agreed to a deal to buy him out.

He told Judge Liam Devally he understood his interest in the station had been purchased by Texaco, but later his solicitor was told the board of Texaco had turned down the deal.

Judge Devally yesterday held that Mr Hilliard did not hold a lease on the premises and was only a licensee.