Bennett Construction, the Mullingar-based building company owned by Christopher and John Bennett, made a pre-tax profit of €2.4 million in the year to the end of March 2009, according to accounts just filed, writes Colm Keena

The profit is almost €1 million higher than the previous year’s result, despite turnover falling to €143.3 million from the previous year’s €186.8 million.

At the end of the year the company had shareholders’ funds of €16.2 million.

The numbers employed by the company fell to an average during the year of 157, from 172 the previous year.

The accounts show that whereas the previous year the company carried out construction work valued at €12.4 million for group companies, it carried out no such work during the year to end March 2009.