GORT MAN ON TRIAL OVER HEATING OIL PRICE FIXING

Date Published: 02-May-2012

The trial continues today of a Gort man charged with preventing, restricting or distorting competition through fixing the price of gas oil and kerosene.

Pat Hegarty with an address at Coole in Gort is appearing before Galway Circuit Criminal Court on day two of his trial.

Hegarty is charged with entering an undertaking with the object of the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition with gas oil contrary to the Competition Act 1991 as amended, while a Manager or officer at Fate Park Limited trading as Sweeney Oil/Rabbitt Oil on dates between 1st January 2001 and 11th February 2002 inclusive.

He also faces a second charge in relation to the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition with kerosene while a manager or officer at the Fate Park Limited fuel distribution group.

Hegarty pleaded not guilty to both counts when arraigned at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.