Gerard Martin Gaffney, 63, of Newry Road in Armagh, has accepted a seven-year undertaking barring him from acting as a company director. The Department for the Economy accepted the undertaking on 25 February 2026.

Gaffney served as director of Gaffney’s Fashions Ltd, a company registered for retail sale of footwear in specialised stores. The firm had its registered office at Newry Road, Armagh.

The company entered liquidation on 2 March 2023. Creditors faced an estimated deficiency of £171,704. Share capital stood at £1, leaving members with an estimated deficiency of £171,705.

The disqualification relates to Gaffney's unfit conduct as director, connected to an improper application for a £50,000 Covid bounce back loan.

In the financial year from 1 April 2025, the Department accepted 16 disqualification undertakings. Courts issued five disqualification orders in that period.