A High Court dispute over the use of the name Limerick Whiskey on a brand of spirits has been resolved.
The action was brought by Nicholas Ryan and his company, Limerick Spirits Company Ltd, against Anthony Foote, Liam McInerney and Michael Fitzgerald and a linked company, Limerick Distillery Company Ltd.
The plaintiffs sought various orders, including injunctions preventing the defendants using the name Limerick Whiskey, which it was claimed they intended to do.
The plaintiffs had also sought orders restraining the defendants using confidential information allegedly obtained from them, or from representing that sale of the defendants’ products is approved and supported by the plaintiffs.
The defendants denied any wrongdoing and argued all the claims made against them were baseless. Earlier this month, Mr Justice Senan Allen granted the plaintiffs permission to serve short notice of the proceedings against the defendants.
When the matter returned before him on Tuesday, he was told by Paul Coughlan, for the defendants, the matter had been resolved, and could be struck out. No details of the resolution were provided.
Business reputation
In his action, Mr Ryan claimed that he and his company are currently and actively trading under the Limerick Whiskey brand name, which he registered. That particular brand of whiskey, he claimed, is made with locally sourced materials, distilled in Limerick and matured in Ireland.
He had claimed the defendants’ proposal to sell a spirit entitled Limerick Whiskey, which he learned about from a newspaper report, would damage his business reputation.
He claimed nothing came of discussions he had held with the defendants in 2019 but, he alleged, they had used information concerning the whiskey business given to them during those talks.
The defendants denied any sensitive information was disclosed to them and denied Mr Ryan had any goodwill or reputation in the Limerick Whiskey Brand.
