The Audit Bureau of Circulation has rejected a complaint by Independent News & Media about circulation figures issued by the publishers of Ireland on Sunday.

The Independent group claimed sales of Ireland on Sunday during a promotion breached ABC rules relating to positive contribution requirements.

But the bureau said in a statement that it was satisfied that sales of the paper did return a positive contribution to its circulation, complying with the ABC rules.

The Sunday paper was relaunched in May by Associated Newspapers, which acquired it last year from Scottish Radio Holdings.

The bureau said it had based its conclusions on evidence from Associated Newspapers, which was confirmed by its circulation auditor, Deloitte & Touche.

While an Independent group spokesman said it accepted the finding, he said a separate complaint against Ireland on Sunday over the use of unaudited circulation figures had been upheld.