Dublin People Group titles to relaunch after sale to former shareholder
THE three Dublin People Group titles have been bought out of liquidation by Evad IT Solutions, which is owned by businessman David Mahon, who was previously a part-owner of the newspapers.
The assets of North Dublin Publications Limited were bought following an open market sale process run by Tom Murray of Friel Stafford liquidators, who was appointed by the directors at the end of April.
It is understood that there were two under-bidders and nine expressions of interest for the titles which have been in existence for 33 years.
Mahon previously bought a majority stake in North Dublin Publications from founder Robin Webb in 2017, while Celtic Media Group bought a minority stake.
The titles had a circulation of 100,000 a week and readership of 257,000 when suspended from publication on March 25, the start of Covid-19 lockdown.
The company was put into liquidation the following month with the loss of 17 jobs.
Mahon has set up a new company, DPG Publications Limited, to publish Northside People (east and west editions) and Southside People.
Based at new offices in Robinhood Industrial Estate, Dublin, Mahon employs more than 40 IT technical and sales staff. Evad’s clients include Iarnród Éireann; BHP Insurance; Cylon Controls and, in the media sector, Celtic Media Group and Business Post.
Mahon told the Sunday Independent that he was “looking forward to relaunching the three titles in the next month”.
He said he was planning to “build the digital story for the titles on top of the existing print circulation”.