The Cork-based Whittaker family last year had a €3.77m windfall after selling a property firm to its motor group Johnson & Perrott.

Pre-tax profits at Cork-based motor group Johnson & Perrott declined by 7% last year to €2.66m.

ERUDITE jester John Cleese, of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python fame, entertained key players in the Irish business and media worlds at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) annual dinner in the company’s flagship headquarters on Cork’s South Mall last night.

Hundreds of Manchester United fans gathered at the club’s Old Trafford stadium today to protest against the potential take-over by American tycoon, Malcolm Glazer.