Director Agrees To Disqualification

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has accepted a disqualification undertaking for 11 years from the director of a Warrenpoint engineering firm.

John Rooney, 46, of Bridge Road, Burren, Warrenpoint was disqualified in respect of his conduct as a director of Aztech Engineering Solutions Limited.

The Company carried on the business of the design, manufacture and supply of specialised engineering equipment and engineering solution consultancy at Milltown Hill, Warrenpoint and went into liquidation on 13 April 2010 with estimated assets of £6,500, liabilities of £349,207 to non-preferential creditors and an estimated deficiency as regards non-preferential creditors of £342,707. After taking into account the losses incurred by members of the Company the total estimated deficiency was £362,707.

The Department accepted the disqualification undertaking from John Rooney on 13 October 2011 based on the following unfit conduct which solely for the purposes of the disqualification procedure was not disputed:

• causing the company to fraudulently apply for and obtain a grant from DARD. Being convicted by Newry Crown Court, of, making a representation to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development which was and which he knew was or might be untrue or misleading, namely, that he since 28 December 2006, in the course of business trading as Aztech Engineering Solutions Limited had incurred relevant expenditure eligible for payment of Leader and Grant Aid, in breach of Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, contrary to Section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006
• continuing to trade when he should have been aware that the company was insolvent
• failing to comply with the requirements of the Companies (NI) Order 1986 as amended by the Companies (NI) Order 1990, in that accounts for the year ended 31 October 2008 have not been filed
• failing to file Annual Returns for the four years ended 30 October 2006 to 30 October 2009 inclusive.

(CD)