Cork publican, landlord and plant hire company among latest list of tax defaulters

Topping the list with €106.6m in an unpaid settlement was Galway-based plant company LPS International Plant Limited, which is now in liquidation

Revenue published 21 settlements in its latest list, with the overall value of these settlements totalling €117m. Photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie

A Cork publican, a metocean surveyor, and a stonemasons are among those listed in the latest list of tax defaulters published by Revenue. 

Revenue published 21 settlements in its latest list, with the overall value of these settlements totalling €117m.

Cork publican Paul Montgomery, who owns Clancy's and JJ Walsh's in the city centre along with the newly-opened Wilton Bar, was involved in a level 2 risk review case for the under-declaration of capital gains tax and local property tax.

Mr Montgomery was ordered to pay €351,256 in total, comprising €196,237 in tax, €96,148 in interest and €58,871 in penalties, which was paid in full. 

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, the publican, who is listed as a company director and landlord by Revenue, said the case related to a calculation error dating back to 2019. 

"It was an error from several years ago that was spotted in a general audit, but we have paid the total back in full," Mr Montgomery said.

Topping the list was Galway-based LPS International Plant Limited, now in liquidation, which was ordered to pay over €106.6m.

The plant sales company, with an address at Knockdoe in Claregalway was the subject of a Revenue investigation case for the under-declaration of Vat. The amount, which remained unpaid as of March 31, 2026, comprised €46.2m in tax, €14.2m in interest and €46.2m in penalties. 

Another Galway plant hire and sales company, MPL Plant Hire Limited, also with an address at Knockdoe in Claregalway and also in liquidation, was ordered by Revenue to pay back over €4.3m. The company was the subject of a Level 2 audit case for the under-declaration of PAYE, PRSI, USC and Vat, with €4.1m remaining unpaid as of March 31, 2026. 

A Cork solicitor and partner was the subject of a Revenue audit case for the under-declaration of income tax. Colm McGuire, with an address at Laurentic, 4a Knockrea Park, Douglas Road in Cork City was ordered to pay a total of €160,778. The amount, which has been paid in full, was made up of €89,024 in tax, €45,047 in interest and €26,707 in penalties. 

A Cork-based geophysical and metocean surveyor was also included on Revenue's list. Green Rebel Marine Limited, with an address at Crosshaven Boatyard, Point Road in Crosshaven, was the subject of Level 2 risk review for the under-declaration of corporation tax. 

The company was ordered to pay a total of €128,557, comprising €97,253 in tax, €2,128 in interest and €29,176 in penalties, which was paid back in full. 

A Waterford monumental stonemason company was also listed in the latest group of tax defaulters. James and Robert O'Keeffe, trading as O'Keeffe and Sons were the subject of a Level 2 audit case the non-declaration of PAYE, PRSI, USC and Vat. 

The company, with an address at Poleberry in Waterford was ordered to pay a total of €306,451, comprising €188,096 in tax, €61,926 in interest and €56,429 in penalties. Of the total amount ordered, €296,180 remained unpaid by March 31, 2026. 

A Wexford landlord and solicitor was also ordered to pay €1.75m after being the subject of a Revenue audit case for the under-declaration of income tax. John Reid, with an address at Stella Maris, Tar Hill in Gorey was order to pay €782,280 in tax, €736,086 in interest and €234,683 in penallties, with the full of total of €1.75m remaining unpaid as of March 31, 2026.