THE REVENUE Commissioners has successfully petitioned the High Court to appoint liquidators to three companies, including a Park West-based security firm which employs 80 people.

SGCI, which held a number of major contracts including one to supply security services to German discount retailer Lidl, was put into liquidation yesterday.

It owes the Revenue €600,000. Kieran Wallace of KPMG was appointed liquidator.

Paul McArthur, who has an address in Essex, and Sharon Connolly, with an address in Tallaght, are listed as directors of the firm.

O'Mahony Civil Engineering, based in Dunmore East, Co Waterford, was also wound up. Shane Lannen of O'Neill Foley accountants in Waterford was appointed liquidator. The Revenue is owed €382,151 by the company.

The directors are Martin and Elizabeth O'Mahony.

Advertising firm James Lavan & Associates was also put into liquidation. The company, of which James, Michael and Jason Lavan are directors, owes €130,716 to the Revenue. Anthony Weldon of Kieran Ryan & Co in Dublin was appointed liquidator.

James Lavan & Associates had retained losses of €290,000 as of August 31st, 2007, according to its most recently filed accounts.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy appointed liquidators to the three firms and ordered the directors of each to file a statement of affairs, outlining assets and liabilities.

The Revenue also applied to appoint a liquidator to a firm called BPPW in Greystones, Co Wicklow, but later adjourned the application. Another winding-up petition was before the court for Dublin firm Brian Hewson Construction. However, the court was told that the company had been placed in voluntary liquidation at a creditors' meeting last Friday.

The number of liquidations, examinerships and receiverships rose 60 per cent to 130 in the first three months of this year, compared to 2007, according to accountancy firm FGS.