Thomas Crosbie Holdings, owner of the Examiner and several other newspapers, has bought the Kingdom, a weekly newspaper in Co Kerry, in a deal approaching £500,000. It is also understood that the company is considering buying two other small regional newspapers.

Although initially announced last May, the deal to buy Kingdom Publications, which publishes the Kingdom, and its assets was completed only yesterday. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. It is understood that the newspaper, which employs 17 people in Killarney and Tralee, sells around 13,000 copies per week.

Thomas Crosbie owns two daily newspapers - the Examiner and the Evening Echo, as well as the weekly regional newspapers Sligo Weekender, Waterford News & Star and the Western People.