Bernadette Murphy Estates faces order to stop business

Feb 18 2010

A HAMILTON firm of estate agents say they plan to fight an application to wind up the company.

HM Revenue and Customs earlier this month petitioned Hamilton Sheriff Court for the order against Bernadette Murphy Estates.

HMRC also asked the court to appoint a liquidator in respect of the controversial company, who have an office in Cadzow Street and a registered office at 24 Clydeview, Bothwell.

Bernadette Murphy’s partner, Michael Murphy, on Monday described the order as “nonsense” and said it was “being dealt with”.

He told the Advertiser: “The company is still trading and will trade into the future.

“I don’t have any concerns about (the order) at all.

“We will contest it through our lawyers.”

And Murphy claimed: “Facts and figures were presented to the court that were not right and we will go back to court with accurate figures.”

He claimed to be confident of a positive outcome for the company.

Mr Murphy said they also planned to contact the Press Complaints Commission about an article printed in last weekend’s national press questioning the way in which the company operated and their dubious practices.

According to the article, Bernadette Murphy had sold clients’ homes to Michael Murphy... who then sold them on for a much higher price.

A Bellshill OAP told how he sold his house to Bernadette Murphy for £50,000 at a time when others nearby had gone for £30,000 more.

The house was sold for £89,000 just months later.

There had also been complaints about Ms Murphy’s work practices from former colleagues at estate agency firm Remax.

Bernadette Murphy, who is in her forties and lives in Cleland, boasts on her website of running a business that prides itself on “exceptionally high standards of excellence, honesty and integrity”.

Clients are told they can expect her undivided attention and through her “energetic and creative approach... buying or selling a home (becomes) a joyful experience”.

Bernadette Murphy opened the Cadzow Street office with the promise to donate 10 per cent of her total business profits to Breast Cancer Research.

E-mail your comments on this story, or any dealings you’ve had with the Murphys, to jrowbotham@s-un.co.uk