On 19th April 2006, Mr. Denis Manning appeared at Cork District Court on two charges of aiding and abetting the Irish Ford Dealers Association and its members in implementing an agreement which had the object of preventing, restricting or distorting competition in the motor trade so as to directly or indirectly fix the selling price of cars:
- between 24th May 2001 and 30th June 2002 contrary to section 4(1) of the Competition Act 1991 as amended by section 2 of the Competition Amendment Act 1996 and contrary to section 7(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1997;
- between 1st July 2002 and 30th June 2003 contrary to section 4(1) and section 6 of the Competition Act 2002 and contrary to section 7(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1997.
On 30th January 2007, in the Central Criminal Court, Denis Manning pleaded guilty to the second charge. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi in relation to the first charge.
Dennis Manning was sentenced on 9th February 2007 to:
- 12 months in prison, suspended for five years; and
- a fine of €30,000.