Belfast director agrees to disqualification

Date published: 17 June 2020

The Department for the Economy (the Department) has accepted a disqualification undertaking from the Director of a property management business.

Director Disqualification Undertaking
Director Disqualification Undertaking

The undertaking, for the term of eight years, was received from Eileen O’Callaghan (56) of Cavehill Road, Belfast in respect of her conduct as director of Cloghogue Enterprises Limited (“the Company”).

The Company operated a property management business from Cloghogue Business Park, Forkhill Rd, Newry. The company went into Administration on 14 October 2016 with an estimated deficiency as regards creditors of £1,840,397. 

The Department accepted the disqualification undertaking from Eileen O’Callaghan on 21 May 2020 based on the following unfit conduct which solely for the purposes of the disqualification procedure was not disputed:

  • Causing and permitting the Company to enter into transactions at undervalue which were to the detriment of the general body of creditors of the Company;
  • Causing and permitting the company to enter into a transaction giving rise to a preference;
  • Breaching her fiduciary duty/failing to promote the success of the Company by interfering with the Administration process;
  • Causing and permitting the Company to fail to file Annual Returns within the prescribed time for the periods ended July 2004, July 2005, July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2011, July 2013 and July 2014;

The Department has accepted two Disqualification Undertakings in the financial year commencing 1 April 2020.

Notes to editors: 

  1. Insolvency Practitioners acting as voluntary liquidators, administrative receivers and administrators have a duty to report unfit conduct to the Insolvency Service within the Department for the Economy.
  2. The aim of the Department is to bring disqualification proceedings against those directors of failed companies who have abused the privilege of limited liability status through negligence, incompetence or lack of commercial probity. The legislation contained in the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (“the 2002 Order”) is for the protection of the public and trading community but its operation should not inhibit genuine enterprise.
  3. In cases where a person is subject to either a Disqualification Order made by the Court or a Disqualification Undertaking accepted by the Department, that person shall not be a director of a company, act as a receiver of a company's property or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, be concerned or take part in the promotion, formation or management of a company unless he has the leave of the High Court. A disqualified person cannot obtain permission to act as an Insolvency Practitioner.
  4. Article 9 of the 2002 Order provides that where a director is found to be unfit he must be disqualified for a minimum period of two years, up to a maximum of fifteen years. The Courts have decided that the level of seriousness of unfit conduct can fall into three brackets with the top bracket of periods over ten years reserved for particularly serious cases, six to ten years reserved for cases which do not merit the top bracket and two to five years for cases where, although disqualification is mandatory, the case is less serious.
  5. The 2002 Order also allows directors, with the agreement of the Department, to avoid the need for a court hearing by offering an acceptable Disqualification Undertaking. This has exactly the same legal effect as a Disqualification Order made by the court, and will usually include a schedule identifying the director’s unfit conduct. The consequences of breaching a Disqualification Undertaking are the same as those for breaching a Disqualification Order.
  6. If anybody contravenes a Disqualification Order or breaches their Disqualification Undertaking they may be committing a criminal offence and could go to prison for up to two years or face a fine or both. Any person with information to suggest that a disqualified person has acted in contravention of this provision should contact The Insolvency Service’s Directors Disqualification Unit on 028 90 548582.
  7. The period of disqualification commences at the end of 21 days beginning with the day the Disqualification Undertaking was accepted by the Department.
  8. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk.

Share this page

Back to top