Denis O’Brien no issue with being named in judgment

Businessman Denis O’Brien has no issue about being named in relation to an unsuccessful appeal he took against a lower court’s decision about a tax case, the High Court has heard.

Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley had adjourned to yesterday the question of publication of Mr O’Brien’s identity as part of her judgment on the matter on Tuesday. She had asked the parties — Mr O’Brien and the Revenue Commissioners — for their views regarding anonymity, which taxpayers are entitled to up to a certain point.

The Revenue argued that while a person is entitled to anonymity in a direct appeal, that was not so when the case came before the High Court.

Mr O’Brien’s side asked for time to consider the matter. Yesterday, Martin Hayden, for Mr O’Brien, said his client had no application to make in relation to the matter and wanted it dealt with in the normal way.

Ms Justice O’Malley said the name could be published . She also considered a judgment by a High Court colleague in June 2014 related to the same case, in which Mr O’Brien was named.

The case concerned a finding by the Revenue Commissioners that a tax return the businessman made 15 years ago was insufficient.