Bob Mullan Motors to close following founder’s death from COVID

Northern Ireland used car retailer Bob Mullen Motors is set to close six months after the death of its founder from COVID-19.

The Derry-based retailer, located on the Campsie Industrial Estate in Eglinton, will end 40 years of trading on March 31.

Its closure was announced via the business’ Facebook page on St Patrick’s Day and comes six months after he died, aged 69, at Altnagelvin Hospital – becoming a victim of the coronavirus pandemic.   

A statement issued by Mullan’s family alongside a video tribute to the car retail business boss, on March 17, said: "It is with deep regret that we have decided as a family to close Bob Mullan Motors. This has not in any way been an easy decision and not one we ever thought we would be faced with.

"Our father started this company over 40 years ago and it has been a major part of both his and our lives. As hard as it is to make this decision, to us he was the heart and soul of the business and without him there is no Bob Mullan Motors."

It added: "We are so proud of everything that he accomplished throughout his years in the business, and the respect that he has gained from those in the car industry, and also the community far and wide.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who have worked for the company throughout the years and all of our customers for your continuous support from beginning to end.

"If you are one of the customers affected by our closure, do not worry, a member of staff will be in touch in the coming days. Our dad always believed that the biggest part of a sale was the after care of his customers, and we intend to honour that."

Father-of-seven, Bob Mullan, founded one of Northern Ireland's largest and first large-scale car dealerships in Ballykelly in 1980.

The business’s main site would later move to a location in the Campsie Industrial Estate, featuring a 50,000sq-ft showroom and over 100-cars on display.