Johnston Press spends over €240m to become largest Irish regional publisher

JOHNSTON PRESS, the Scottish newspaper group, has splashed out more than €240 million to become the largest regional publisher in Ireland with the takeover of the Leinster Leader Group and Northern Ireland’s Local Press company.

Johnston, which bought the Kilkenny People in June, yesterday snapped up the Leader group for €138m in cash and debt and a further €95m for Local Press.

The takeovers will leapfrog Johnston above Independent News & Media and Irish Examiner owners Thomas Crosbie Holdings as the largest regional newspaper group in the country.