UPDATE: CHENILE KEOGH from Merlin has contacted IPN to clarify the position of Wolfhound titles saying, ‘this situation does not effect the Wolfhound list, all the Wolfhound titles are still on sale and will be for the foreseeable future.’

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Merlin Publishing the Dublin based non-fiction publisher is to cease its publishing activities for the forseeable future.

In a statement to Irish Publishing News the company said that ‘Due to the very significant downturn in the book trade which has seriously affected the level of sales of books, the Directors of Merlin Books Limited (trading as Merlin Publishing under the Merlin imprint), have made the decision to cease its current publishing activities. As a consequence, Merlin Publishing will not be releasing any new titles for the foreseeable future.’

Gill & Macmillan Distribution, who had acted as the publishers distribution agents, announced that they had ceased ‘acting as distributor to Merlin Publishing with immediate effect.’ They further said that ‘All future orders, returns requests and queries should be addressed directly to Merlin Publishing.’

Primarily known for its true crime titles like, Paul William’s Crime Wars and Gangsters, Merlin also publishes the Wolfhound list which it acquired from that list’s founder Seamus Cashman in 2001.

It is unclear from Merlin’s statement how this move affects the remaining staff at the publisher.

In 2008, following concerns over material about Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigations contained in Paul Williams’ bestselling Crime Wars, Merlin was forced to withdraw the book from sale.

A finding of contempt followed and in January 2009 High Court judge, Mr Justice Brian McGovern imposed a fine of €5000 plus costs on the company.

Later that year Merlin was forced to lay off a number of editorial and marketing staff.