The FCA has fined Russel Gerrity £309,843 for using inside information to net himself £128,765.
As a consultant, Mr Gerrity had access to information about whether oil and gas had been discovered during the drilling of wells. Between October 2018 and January 2022, he took advantage of this and used inside information to buy shares in Chariot Oil & Gas Limited and Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Plc ahead of announcements that increased their price.
On another occasion, he used inside information to avoid a loss. He sold shares that he already owned ahead of an announcement that no oil or gas had been found, which then resulted in a price fall.
The FCA was initially notified of some of Mr Gerrity’s trading through Suspicious Transaction and Order Reports (STORs) submitted by a firm, showing the vital role of industry in uncovering market abuse.
During its subsequent investigation, the FCA’s systems detected further suspicious trades placed by Mr Gerrity, over multiple accounts with different brokers, while he was based outside of the UK.
Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said:
'Mr Gerrity abused his position to line his own pockets. We will take action against those who damage the integrity of our markets, and seek to recover any ill-gotten gains.’
Notes to editors
- Final Notice 2025: Russel Gerrity (PDF)[2].
- Mr Gerrity engaged in insider dealing in breach of Article 14(a) of the UK Market Abuse Regulations.
- Mr Gerrity agreed to solve this matter and qualified for a 30% (stage 1) discount under the FCA’s settlement procedures. Were it not for this discount, the FCA would have imposed a financial penalty of £387,448.
- Tackling financial crime is a priority under the FCA's 5-year strategy[3].
- The FCA enables a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. Find out more about the FCA[4].