McCreevy gets bogus accounts windfall

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy will receive a multi-million euro boost in the budget after thousands of bogus off-shore account holders were ordered to pay up huge amounts of back-taxes by the end of the year.

The Revenue Commissioners have identified 30,000 individuals linked to the accounts who must pay penalties and unpaid tax by December 17 or face prosecution.

A spokesman for Mr McCreevy described it as a windfall which would help cushion the difficult economic circumstances as detail of this year’s budget are finalised.