It was a depressing commentary on the business environment today. The first action of both parties in the longest-running competition court case in Irish history - after the verdict was delivered - was to announce they would sue the other for damages.

Eircell and the parent of rival Imagine have been fighting over whether the former had a dominant position which it had abused terminating a contract between them for the sale of air time. The court ruled it did not have a dominant position although it did find Eircell had breached the terms of its contract with Imagine's parent, Meridian.

Now Meridian intends to sue for damages over revenue it says it would have received from customers had Eircell not breached the contract. In turn, Eircell says it will sue to recover revenue it lost by continuing to offer air time to Imagine at a discount during the court hearing following a commitment given in court. Pity the judge in either case.