A number of motor dealers and dealerships are expected to be charged in the courts in relation to fixing the price of Citroën cars over the coming weeks, writes Colm Keena, Public Affairs Correspondent.

The cases are to be brought before courts around the State and arise from a lengthy investigation conducted by the Competition Authority.

About 10 charges are expected to be brought over the coming two months.

Two charges, one against a dealer and another against a company, are expected to be brought today, in a case brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The others are expected to follow later this month and in early February.

On Monday four separate charges were brought against a Dublin motor dealership, Bursey Peppard Ltd, of St Agnes Road, Crumlin, relating to alleged offences covering a period of more than eight years.

Last June a retired car sector worker, John McGlynn, from Templeogue, Dublin, was brought before the courts on charges of aiding and abetting the fixing of prices for Citroën cars.

His trial is due to begin on March 3rd at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr McGlynn has denied any involvement in price-fixing or in aiding members of the Citroën Car Dealers' Association in distorting competition.

In a separate case last year, retired Cork businessman Denis Manning received a 12-month suspended sentence and a €30,000 fine for assisting Ford dealers in operating a price-fixing cartel.

Manning admitted a single charge of aiding and abetting the Irish Ford Dealers' Association and its members in implementing an agreement aimed at preventing, restricting or distorting competition in the trade so as to fix the selling price of cars between July 2002 and June 2003.

The Competition Authority had seized documents and statements from Manning and a number of Ford dealers that confirmed the existence of a price-fixing agreement, which was euphemistically called a "programme for profitability".