Court to hear €10m tax hearing

THE Commercial Court, which fast-tracks commercial disputes, has agreed to an unprecedented application by the Revenue Commissioners to hear an action aimed at the “effective collection” of €10 million from two car dealers over alleged unpaid taxes.

The Revenue said it wanted the Commercial Court to hear the case against brothers Pauric and John Kane because of the “very substantial liability” due and because the court could make orders resulting in the “effective collection” of the alleged unpaid tax.

Admitting the action yesterday, Mr Justice Peter Kelly remarked this was the first time in the court’s five and a half year history the Revenue had applied to bring proceedings. Perhaps it signalled “a new approach” by the Revenue, he said.