Court appoints liquidator to Mean Fiddler

AN official liquidator has been appointed to the company trading as The Mean Fiddler pub in Wexford Street, Dublin, by the High Court. A petition to wind up Gillint Catering Ltd, trading as The Mean Fiddler, with a registered office at Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, was brought by Mr Kieran Cavanagh, publican. The court was told yesterday that a key problem was a break down in trust between Mr Cavanagh and his partner, Mr Vincent Power.

The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, appointed Mr William O'Riordan, of Coopers and Lybrand, as official liquidator. The court was told the company owed the Revenue Commissioners over £350,000.

Mr Michael Cush, counsel for Mr Cavanagh, said the petitioner was one of two directors who had a 50 per cent shareholding in the company. The company was insolvent and all creditors were supporting the petition.

Mr Cavanagh in the petition said that the company was incorporated in August 1994. He had been the owner of 50 per cent of the issued shares in the company since November 1994. The remaining 50 per cent were owned by Mr Power of High Street, Harlesden, London.

The company was formed as a partnership between the two, to operate and manage the public house known as The Mean Fiddler, Wexford Street, Dublin.

The premises were bought in November 1994 by him and Mr Power and were owned by both as tenants in common. Mr Cavanagh said he was the licensee.

The company required further finance if it were to move forward. It had become clear that this finance could not be raised unless either party bought the other party out, or there was clear agreement as to partnership [terms. Mr Cavanagh said that, despite vigorous efforts, neither party had bought the other party out, and clear partnership terms had not been put into operation. In the circumstances, it was just and equitable that the company should be wound up, he said.

The company could not pay its debts. The debt to the Revenue related to PAYE, PRSI and VAT and went back to May 5th, 1995.

In September 1996, an agreement was reached between the company and the Revenue whereby a sum of £72,000 was to be paid immediately and further sums were to be paid after that. The company was unable to pay its debt to the Revenue.