Scrip Dividend Election

W.H. Ireland Group PLC
28 May 2004


                 W.H. Ireland Group plc ('WHI' or 'the Company')
              Scrip dividend election and change in Director's holding

28th May 2004

The board of the Company announces the following information in relation to the
ordinary share capital of the company:


Scrip Dividend

Elections to accept the scrip dividend alternative (as announced on 15 March
2004 and as set out in the circular to  shareholders dated 20 March 2003) have
been received from the holders of 1,498,816 ordinary shares of 5p each 
('Shares') in aggregate, representing approximately 9.55% of the existing issued
ordinary share capital. Accordingly  today 14,675 new Shares were issued in
satisfaction of such elections, bringing the enlarged issued ordinary share 
capital to 15,704,421. The cost to the Company of the dividend made in cash
amounts to approximately £106,374 in total.  Application has been made to the
London Stock Exchange for admission to trading on AIM of the 14,675 new Shares. 
Dealings are expected to commence and CREST member accounts are expected to be
credited on 1 June 2004 at 8.00am.

In addition, the Company was today notified that W.H. Ireland Trustees Limited
(account designation L. Beevers) elected  to take up its entitlement of 50
Shares in respect of the scrip dividend. As a result the aggregate beneficial
holding  of Laurie Beevers, Chief Executive, has therefore increased to
2,215,735 Shares (representing approximately 14.11 per  cent. of the enlarged
share capital of the Company following the scrip dividend payment). The Company
was also notified  that the Readycount Directors Pension Scheme, of which W.L.
Beevers and David Youngman are beneficiaries, elected to  take up its
entitlement of 3,858 Shares in respect of the scrip dividend, increasing its
total holding to 397,987  Shares (representing approximately 2.53% of the
enlarged share capital of the Company following the scrip dividend payment).

Enquiries:

Derek Ashford, Finance Director
0161 832 2174




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