Eleven companies in the McSweeney Pharmacy Group employing 95 people in the Republic have urged the High Court to confirm examinership for them while a proposed survival scheme is finalised. The group’s companies in Northern Ireland are not affected.

The companies have debts of about €17 million, with more than €13 million owed to Allied Irish Banks.

AIB opposed examinership in a hearing which opened yesterday. It wants a receiver to be appointed.