Businessman owes €1m to Revenue, circuit court hears

A BUSINESSMAN who owed “over €1 million” in taxes and penalties has failed to engage with Revenue officials since appearing in court earlier this year, the state said yesterday.

Tadhg Feeney, of Jerpoint West, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, was prosecuted for failing to pay tax, interest and penalties to Revenue but agreed last April at Kilkenny Circuit Court to make stage payments to meet his bill.

The case came up again yesterday in the circuit court when Frank Quirke BL, prosecuting, referred to the “non co-operation” of Mr Feeney in terms of raising the necessary money for compensation and fines.

“There was a lengthy hearing about the accused’s non-co-operation,” said Mr Quirke. “Very significant monies were to be paid, over €1 million.”

The court was previously told that Mr Feeney owed €613,000 in tax, plus interest and penalties. He pleaded guilty to 16 tax-related offences in November.

Jack Hickey BL, defending, told Judge Alice Doyle yesterday that the case had previously been heard in detail by Judge Olive Buttimer, who heard about Mr Feeney’s financial problems.

“This man had properties for sale, but no one was prepared to buy them and an auctioneer gave evidence to that effect,” said Mr Hickey.

It was his position that the matter should be dealt with again by Judge Buttimer.

Mr Quirke added that the accused “was to engage with the Revenue and he has failed to engage with them”.

Judge Doyle said she was transferring the case to Judge Buttimer’s list and told the defence to make an application to Judge Buttimer.

The charges against Mr Feeney relate to filing incorrect tax returns for the years 1990-91; 1995-96; 1997-98; and 10 incorrect VAT returns between 1996 and 2004.

He also had a number of bogus non-resident accounts with Irish Nationwide and ACC Bank.