Share purchase by directors

W.H. Ireland Group PLC
13 November 2002


                                    W.H. Ireland Group plc

                               ('W.H. Ireland' or 'the Company'


                         Purchase of shares by directors and employees


Further to the announcements made earlier today regarding directors' holdings, W.H. Ireland
announces the purchase on 12 November 2002 of a total of 440,000 ordinary shares of 5 pence
each at a price of 25 pence per share by persons which include certain directors and employees
of the Company.  This represents approximately 3.06 per cent. of the issued ordinary share
capital of the Company.


The directors of the Company (and connected persons) purchased shares as follows:


                            No. of ordinary shares           % of issued ordinary share capital
Sir David Trippier                           8,000                                         0.06
Laurie Beevers                              10,000                                         0.07
David Youngman (see                         72,000                                         0.50
note)
Derek Ashford                               10,000                                         0.07
John Lawrence                               36,000                                         0.25


Note:    The 72,000 shares purchased are registered in the name of Mr Youngman's spouse, Lesley
         Youngman.


In addition the Readycount Pension Scheme (of which David Youngman and Laurie Beevers are the
sole beneficiaries) purchased 80,000 ordinary shares, taking its holding to approximately
355,000 shares (representing approximately 2.47 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary
share capital).


Enquiries:


Laurie Beevers, Chief Executive                                                   0161 832 6644


David Youngman, Managing Director


Derek Ashford, Finance Director




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