A subsidiary of the Gowan group is among the latest car dealers to be charged with anti-competitive practices affecting Citroën cars.

In the Dublin District Court yesterday Gowan Motors (Parkgate) Ltd was charged that between dates in 1996 and 2002, it entered into an agreement with other undertakings to directly or indirectly fix the price of Citroën cars. It was further charged that between the same dates it implemented an agreement to distort competition by directly or indirectly fixing the price of Citroën cars.

The case was put back for six weeks to allow time for the Director of Public Prosecutions to prepare a book a evidence.

Similar charges relating to the same dates were brought against two of its directors, Michael Patrick Gibbs and Brian Smyth, alleging they, having authorised or consented to the offences alleged, were themselves guilty of them. Again the cases were put back for six weeks.

Charges were also brought against Finglas Motors M50 Ltd, alleging that between September 2000 and May 2002, it entered into and implemented an agreement with other undertakings, which had as its object the distortion of competition by directly or indirectly fixing the price of Citroën cars.

Similar charges have already been brought against three car dealerships in countries Dublin, Meath and Kildare. Those cases were also put back.