Supreme Court dismisses car dealer's appeal against €4.9m VAT bill

The Supreme Court has dismissed a car dealer's appeal against an unprecedented summary judgment order made ten years ago requiring him to pay the Revenue almost €4.9m arising from unpaid VAT and interest.

In seeking judgment against John Alex Kane, of Granard, Co Longford, in 2009, the Revenue said it had decided to apply to the Commercial Court because of the "very substantial liability" due and because that court could make orders resulting in "effective collection" of the unpaid tax.