Murray Consultants has acquired another Dublin-based public relations company, McMahon-Sheedy, for an undisclosed sum. McMahon-Sheedy is one of the smaller companies in the industry, specialising in the areas of agriculture and consumer goods. The two shareholders are managing director, Mr John McMahon and his wife, Dympna.

Mr McMahon said yesterday the firm's clients were happy with the new arrangement. He added that McMahon-Sheedy's staff of less than 10 people would be given the opportunity to transfer to Murray Consultants.

When asked why he sold the company, Mr McMahon said it was a "strategic move that suits me at this stage". He said the firm had been doing well but was "not in a leadership position".

Mr McMahon said, while other firms were interested in acquiring McMahon-Sheedy, the compatible nature of both firms' client mix was the "crucial" factor.

McMahon-Sheedy began trading in 1971 and has tended to concentrate on clients in the agricultural sector. In recent months it lost one of its biggest clients Gilbeys. Among its existing clients are Cadburys and ICC Venture Capital. Mr McMahon is a former chairman of the Consumers Association of Ireland and former president of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.