{"id":505,"date":"2017-02-16T13:28:51","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T13:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/business\/?page_id=505"},"modified":"2018-01-31T14:46:33","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T14:46:33","slug":"citroen-dealers-cartel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ccpc.inventise.ie\/business\/enforcement\/criminal-enforcement\/criminal-court-cases\/citroen-dealers-cartel\/","title":{"rendered":"Members of Citro\u00ebn Dealers Association cartel convicted of price fixing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outcome of investigation<\/h3>\n

In total 14 convictions, comprising eight individuals and six undertakings, were secured by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to an investigation conducted by the Competition Authority (Authority), from the mid-1990\u2019s to 2007, involving a price fixing cartel in the sale of Citro\u00ebn cars.<\/p>\n

Outline of Case<\/h3>\n

Arising out of a series of investigations into car dealerships that involved various brands of car in the mid-1990’s, the Authority opened a case around 2002. The case focused on Citro\u00ebn dealerships. A series of complaints formed the groundwork and came from identified and anonymous sources, as well as the assistance of an immunity applicant.<\/p>\n

The allegations centred on price-fixing, in particular a collusion to fix prices of new Citro\u00ebn vehicles, second hand cars, accessories including metallic paint options and delivery charges. The agreement was policed by the Secretary of the Citro\u00ebn Dealers Association who closely monitored participant-members prices.<\/p>\n

In 2007 the DPP preferred price fixing charges against the named dealerships, individual officers and directors of the Citroen dealerships. In addition, the DPP preferred charges of aiding and abetting the commission of the offence of price fixing against the Secretary of the Citro\u00ebn Dealers Association.<\/p>\n

Read the judgment in the Citro\u00ebn Dealers Association case, DPP v Patrick Duffy & Duffy Motors (Newbridge) Limited<\/a> of 7 May 2009.<\/p>\n

Table of cases below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Defendant<\/th>\nStatus<\/th>\nDate Sentenced<\/th>\nResult<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
James Durrigan & Sons Limited<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n08\/05\/2008<\/td>\n\u20ac12,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
James Durrigan<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n08\/05\/2008<\/td>\nThree months prison sentence \u2013 suspended for two\u00a0years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ravenslodge Trading Limited<\/p>\n

T\/A Jack Doran Motors<\/td>\n

Pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n28\/10\/2008<\/td>\n\u20ac20,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jack Doran<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n28\/10\/2008<\/td>\nThree months prison sentence \u2013 suspended for five\u00a0years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Duffy Motors (Newbridge) Limited<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n23\/03\/2009<\/td>\n\u20ac50,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Patrick Duffy<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n23\/03\/2009<\/td>\nSix months and nine\u00a0months prison sentences \u2013 suspended for five\u00a0years. Total of \u20ac50,000 fines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bursey Peppard Limited<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n03\/04\/2009<\/td>\n\u20ac80,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
James Bursey<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n03\/04\/2009<\/td>\nSix months and nine\u00a0months sentences \u2013 suspended for five\u00a0years. Total of \u20ac80,000 fines. Prison term of 28 days imposed for non-payment of the fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Finglas Motors (M50) Limited<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n17\/06\/2009<\/td>\n\u20ac35,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bernard Byrne<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n17\/06\/2009<\/td>\nNine months prison sentence \u2013 suspended for one\u00a0year. \u20ac2,000 fine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gowan Motors (Parkgate) Limited<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n22\/06\/2009<\/td>\n\u20ac30,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michael Patrick Gibbs<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n22\/06\/2009<\/td>\nSix months prison sentence \u2013 suspended for three\u00a0years. \u20ac30,000 fine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brian Smyth<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the price fixing charges<\/td>\n22\/06\/2009<\/td>\nSix months prison sentence \u2013 suspended for three\u00a0years. \u20ac30,000 fine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John McGlynn<\/td>\nPleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to aiding and abetting the commission of the offence of price fixing<\/td>\n27\/11\/2009<\/td>\nSix months and nine\u00a0months prison sentences \u2013 suspended for five\u00a0years. \u20ac30,000 fine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Relevant provision<\/h2>\n