Businessmen fined for tax returns failure

A barrister, a retired bank manager, an accountant and three company directors were among those fined at the Dublin District Court yesterday for failing to file tax returns.

In total more than 70 cases were heard before Mr Justice John O'Donnell and fines amounting to approximately £28,000 were imposed.

One of the company directors was Mr Michael Swan of Malahide, Co Dublin, who was fined £250 for not filing one years tax returns. Another director, Mr Roderick Fitzgerald of Fosterbrook, Blackrock was fined £500, while Mr Patrick Dempsey, a director with an address in Deerpark Road, Castleknock was fined £250.

A solicitor for Mr Dempsey said he was unable to file returns due to "circumstances beyond his control" which had arisen after a dispute with his accountant.

The barrister fined was named in court as Mr Niall Durnin from Blackrock, Co Dublin who was fined £250. The rest of the summonses against him were struck out by the judge.

Counsel for Mr Durnin said he had not filed returns due to "inadvertence" and was "very embarrassed about the whole thing".

Accountant, Mr Brendan McLoughlin from Glenageary was fined £500 for failing to file returns, although he was not present in court.

Mr Vincent Meehan, a retired bank manager from Dalkey, Co Dublin was fined £2,500 for failing to file returns for five separate years. He was not present in court to defend the charges.

Mr Godfrey Carroll an auctioneer from Farmleigh Avenue in Stillorgan, Co Dublin made no appearance in court, but was fined £2,500 for not filing returns in five separate years.

A farmer, Mr Richard Bannerman, from St Annes, Ballymun, Dublin was fined £2,500, while a dress designer, Mr Matthew O'Donohue, from Wicklow Street in Dublin was fined £250, although the court was told all returns had now been filed.