THE HIGH Court has made an order winding up the company which publishes the Limerick Independentweekly newspaper over unpaid debts.
Limerick Independent Newspapers (LIN) Ltd owes €264,000 in VAT, PAYE and PRSI to the Revenue. It was also alleged it owed €93,261 to Webprint Concepts Ltd, Mahon Retail Park, Cork, which had printed the paper until recently, the court heard.
Mr Justice Roderick Murphy appointed Brian McEnery as liquidator to LIN on the petition of Webprint. The Revenue supported the petition.
LIN had opposed the petition. It argued there was a legitimate dispute between the parties over Webprint’s alleged use of cheaper newsprint. LIN said Webprint printed 75 issues using cheaper paper, in breach of contract, which led to complaints from advertisers, resulting in the newspaper issuing credit notes.
LIN claimed it was due €60,000 due to alleged overcharging by Webprint.
Brendan Kirwan, for Webprint, argued that LIN had not raised the issue of cheaper paper until after the winding up application.
Mr Justice Murphy said that according to the documents, there was a history of the company owing substantial sums to Webprint since October 2008.
If the high water mark of LIN’s claim was that it was owed €60,000 by Webprint, there was still €33,000 outstanding, he said.
Given this and the debt to the Revenue, the judge said he would make an order appointing Mr McEnery as liquidator.