Barrister’s actions referred to fraud squad

A HIGH Court judge has said there appears to be little doubt a “fraud” was perpetrated by a barrister who, while acting as tax consultant to a company, received large sums to be paid to the Revenue to settle tax liabilities but the Revenue never received those monies.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the claims by the REL Refridgeration Group (REL) regarding Patrick Russell, a barrister stated to have recently resigned from the Bar, of Steelstown, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, and also operating as a tax consultant from an address in Westfield House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, should be made known to the Garda National Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

The judge said the Revenue should also be made aware of claims that Mr Russell had, during a consultation with an REL director, put that director onto the phone to a person whom Mr Russell stated was a Revenue official in Dublin but whom the company later learned was allegedly an impersonator.