A dispute between two accountants over entitlements to the substantial Galway city property assets of a chartered accountancy partnership has come before the Commercial Court.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday entered into the Commercial Court list the dispute between Paul Lennon, of Roscam, Merlin Park, Galway, and Michael McEvoy, Sandyview Drive, Riverside Estate, Galway, arising from the alleged dissolution on June 30th, 2006, of the partnership of Duffy Tierney & Company, chartered accountants. The judge noted there had been attempts at mediation and said he hoped there would be progress before the case came back before the court on January 21st.

Mr Lennon claims the partnership between him and Mr McEvoy was operated on the sole basis of a partnership at will and that he held one-third of the shares while Mr McEvoy held two-thirds. However, Mr McEvoy claims the partnership operated on the basis of a deed of partnership.

Mr Lennon claims the partnership had on June 30th, 2006, acquired certain property in Galway and, on the same day, Mr McEvoy had written to him stating that he intended to terminate the partnership arrangement.

He claims Mr McEvoy and his solicitors had initially acknowledged his (Mr Lennon's) interest in the property.