THREE former directors of the company which owned the grounds of Cork City Football Club had acted honestly and responsibly in running the company up to its liquidation last year the High Court found yesterday.
Mr Justice Shanley refused to make an order declaring that the three directors should not for a period of five years, be appointed or act in any way as a director or secretary of any company.
The three directors of Decvale Ltd, a company formed to run the football club, were Mr Patrick O'Donovan, Hillsborough, Model Farm Road, Cork; Mr Christopher Herlihy, Silverdale Avenue, Ballinlough, Cork; and Mr Richard O'Brien, Tall Trees, Model Farm Road, Cork.
A petition brought against another director of the company, Mr Tony O Sullivan, of Stoneview, Blarney, Co Cork, was dismissed.
The former directors, who had planned to develop the grounds at Bishopstown Road, Wilton, Cork had responded to an application under the 1990 Companies Act by the official liquidator, Mr John Hyland, that they should not, for a period of five years, be appointed or act in any way as a director or secretary of any company.
A section of the Act states that if a former director can show he or she acted honestly and responsibly in the running of the company up to its liquidation then the declaration would not apply.