The elderly founders of a multi-million euro pub and drinks distribution business have failed in a High Court application.
79-year-old Patrick Coman and his 69-year-old wife Mary are trying to compel their sons to restore their directors' salaries and pay them arrears of €100,000.
They are involved in a bitter legal wrangle with five of their six sons over ownership of the family business, Coman's Bar in Rathgar in Dublin, and a distribution outlet in Tallaght.
The five sons have taken legal proceedings to compel enforcement of an agreement reached last February that was to see the parents resign as directors and receive a payment of €7m.
The sons say the agreement was legally binding; the parents say it is not and that there was nothing in writing.
Mr Justice Herbert refused the application for an injunction but said he would recommend an early hearing of the action.
