Appeals tribunal blames accountant

THE Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) has announced the outcome of an appeal tribunal held on September 28.

The tribunal found that John Handibode, a member of the institute carrying on practice in Lucan, Co Dublin, failed to deal adequately with the affairs of a company on various grounds.

The tribunal said he failed to compile and deliver a company’s annual returns to the Companies Registration Office for 1998 and 1999, which resulted in the company being struck off the register of companies in June 2000.

It also said he failed to advise the directors to have the company reinstated to the register by ensuring all outstanding returns were submitted to the Companies Registration Office in order to safeguard the assets of the company and protect the legal position of the directors and was accordingly liable to disciplinary action under chapter 11 of the institute’s bye laws.