THE dispute between between shareholders in Murray Consultants Ltd, the Dublin firm of public relations, has been adjourned by the Supreme Court to March 18th next.

The company and two of its directors, Mr Joseph Murray and Mr James Milton appealed to the Supreme Court following a rejection of their High Court application to have a stay put on proceedings being brought against them by Mr Terence Horgan.

Mr Horgan has brought a petition claiming oppression of a shareholder. Another relief sought is that the company and its two directors buy out Mr Horgan's shareholding and the court to value that shareholding.

Mr Horgan is also claiming a breach of a partnership agreement band is claiming wrongful removal from employment.

The company and its two directors sought a stay on Mr Horgan's claims on the basis that it was an abuse of the process of the court and that they had offered Mr Horgan a mechanism for valuation of the shares by an expert. Mr Horgan had opposed this on the basis that it was not binding.

The company and its two directors lost their High Court application and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, having indicated that it was concerned about the costs of the proceedings if they ran the full distance, asked lawyers for Mr Horgan to consider if there was any basis for a valuation of Mr Horgan's shareholding with which his side would agree.