Rural shopkeeper faces conviction for failing to declare €400 of cigarettes

A judge has asked Revenue to reconsider if it wants to secure a conviction against a shopkeeper of “impeccable character” who had failed to declare €400 of cigarettes he had for sale.

Judge Mary Dorgan made the comments after John Daly, of the Paddock, Drinagh, Co Cork, had pleaded guilty to having the tobacco products for sale or delivery without having paid the required duty on them on November 4, 2016.

Clonakilty District Court was told customs officer Fiana Harrington had secured a warrant to search the premises on foot of confidential information. In the search 680 cigarettes were found as well as 0.3kg of tobacco. Solicitor for the State, Malachy Boohig, said the cost to the State was just over €400. Judge Dorgan was told Mr Daly had no convictions and the penalty was a fine of €5,000 which could be mitigated to half that amount.