Father and son motor trade row resolved

A High Court dispute involving firms involved in the motor sales trade owned by a father and a son has been resolved.

Last week, the High Court granted Duffy Commercials Ltd and Ultimo Ltd, whose founding director and shareholder is Arthur Duffy, a temporary injunction against his son Desmond Duffy, otherwise Dessie, trading as Dessie Duffy Cars & Commercials.

Lawyers for companies owned by Arthur Duffy said the action was brought because Dessie Duffy and his firm have been incorrectly passing themselves off as part of his father’s business.

The injunctions prevented the defendants holding themselves out as having any business, legal rights, interest, or commercial involvement with Arthur Duffy’s firms.

Arthur Duffy says the companies have been linked because his son’s business website features photographs of the father’s business premises, giving the incorrect impression the businesses are connected. There is no connection, he said.

The plaintiff companies trade at Lisnasaran, Cootehill, Co Cavan, while the defendant operates his car and commercial vehicle sales business at Muff, Canningstown, Cootehill.

When the matter returned before the court yesterday, Felix McEnroy SC, for the plaintiffs, said the matter had been resolved.

It was agreed the court could make orders in terms including that the pictures of the father’s businesses were removed from the website. The court made a declaration to the effect the companies were not connected.