Consultant fined €30k for revenue offences

A consultant gynaecologist who failed to declare his income from his work with private patients and income from houses he was renting out was yesterday fined €30,000 for revenue offences.

Cavan circuit court heard Dr Ahmed Hussain had been paying tax on his work with the HSE looking after public patients. His barrister, Tom Fitzpatrick, said what happened did not involve the making of false returns, submitting misleading documentations or some sophisticated scheme of tax evasion. “He simply didn’t make returns in respect of private income,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

The court heard for the years 1999 to 2006 there had been undisclosed income amounting to €1.7 million and the tax liabilities amounted on this to €1.5m of which €954k has been paid.

Dr Hussain has reached what the court was told was a “global settlement” with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the criminal case.

The court also heard a settlement was reached in a civil case with the Revenue Commissioners as a result of which Dr Hussain had paid penalties amounting to €609,905.

Mr Fitzpatrick said, “Everything he owns has been mortgaged to the hilt,” and he has to service mortgage payments of €15,000 a month. Having the matter dealt with in open court “is an absolute humiliation to him,” Mr Fitzpatrick added.

Passing sentence Judge John O’Hagan said such cases attract a lot of publicity, for obvious reasons, and while Dr Hussain can be criticised for not making proper arrangements to declare earnings, “he faced up to it.”

Dr Hussain of Carrickane, Cavan, pleaded guilty to two sample counts relating to failing to make income tax returns and one of failing to keep full and proper records.

Previously the court heard from Mr Gerard Cosgrave, inspector of taxes, that the case came to light after it was noticed that while Dr Hussain was registered for PAYE in relation to his HSE work he was not registered for other income.