A Co Cork firm was attempting to usurp service contracts of two companies within the Hanley Controls Group, major providers of automation and computer systems for industry and public utilities, the High Court was told yesterday.
Hanley Control Systems Ltd and Hanley Controls Ltd obtained interim injunctions directing O.N.G. Automation Ltd, (ONGA) to comply with and carry out existing service agreements.
Mr Eamon Marray, counsel for the Hanley companies, told Mr Justice Finnegan that ONGA was attempting to replace his clients and assume direct responsibility for Hanley Group customers.
He said ONGA was seeking to directly take onto itself the service contracts of the Hanley companies, service contracts which ONGA had previously carried out as agents of the Hanley Group. Mr Marray said his clients were facing an immediate risk of irreparable loss as a result of ONGA's sudden and unexpected repudiatory breach of contract.
He said ONGA directors, Mr John O'Neill and Mr Diarmuid Good had previously worked for the Hanley companies prior to setting up O.N.G. Automation Ltd. in 1993.
Since then they had continued to operate as the plaintiff's sales and engineering directors respectively and had used Hanley letterheads to conceal from Hanley customers the fact that O.N.G. Automation Ltd existed as an agent of the Hanley companies.
