A High Court Judge yesterday referred to the "deep division and controversy" between parties to a legal dispute which involves the well-known Dublin public relations firm, Murray Consultants.

Mr Terence P. Horgan claims he was a former partner until the affairs of the company were, he alleges, operated oppressively against him by the remaining partners, Mr Patrick Joseph Murray and Mr James Milton. Mr Horgan has brought an action against the company. In preliminary proceedings, both sides applied to the court for documents held by each side which they alleged were necessary for the preparation of their respective cases.

Yesterday, Mr Justice O'Sullivan decided Messrs Murray and Milton should produce certain advices given to the company when the alleged partnership broke down. Mr Horgan claimed he was entitled to see such advices because they would tend to support his view that he had an equal share in such a "triumvirate". Messrs Murray and Milton had argued the advices were given to the company and they should not be obliged to produce them. Mr Justice O'Sullivan held the advices furnished to the PR firm were relevant and should be produced unless they were privileged. Mr Justice O'Sullivan also decided that Messrs Murray and Milton were not entitled to discovery of advices obtained by Mr Horgan in relation to the value of his shares when he refused an offer made to him.