Ex-Anglo company secretary for trial on Revenue charges

A former executive at Anglo Irish Bank is to stand trial on revenue charges. Bernard Daly (65), Collins Avenue West, Dublin, appeared in court yesterday afternoon following his arrest.

The former senior executive joined Anglo in 1999 having previously held a position in the Central Bank. He was appointed as Anglo's company secretary in 2003 and held that position until he resigned four years later.

Last Thursday, at Dublin District Court, the same Revenue charges were brought against Anglo’s former head of treasury, Tiarnan O’Mahoney (54), Old Long Hill Road, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

Anglo, which subsequently collapsed, was nationalised in 2009 before it was later rebranded the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) – now in special liquidation. Mr Daly remained silent during his brief hearing at Dublin District Court.

Det Garda Daniel MacGinty of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, told Judge Hugh O’Donnell that Mr Daly was arrested at Chancery Street, Dublin, at 1pm yesterday on foot of four arrest warrants.

State solicitor Tom Browne told Judge O'Donnell that there was consent to bail with conditions which had been agreed with Mr Daly's lawyer, Robert Eagar.

Bail was to be set in Mr Daly’s own bond of €1,000 but a cash lodgement was not required. He must live at his current address and had to sign on every Friday at Santry Garda station.

Mr Browne also told the judge that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed "trial on indictment", meaning the case will go before a judge and jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

A 12-week adjournment was needed to prepare the book of evidence and the prosecution lawyer asked for the case to be listed again at the District Court in February so it could join up with that of a co-accused.

The judge extended time for the book of evidence to be drafted and Mr Daly, who has not yet entered a plea, was remanded on bail.

He will face his next hearing on February 6th when it is expected that he and a co- accused will be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

Mr Daly is facing four charges under the Taxes Consolidations Act 1997 relating to alleged offences between March 25th and November 17th , 2003.

It is alleged that, being an officer of Anglo Irish Bank, he concealed a named account. He is also accused of conspiring to obstruct and interfere with an officer of the Revenue Commissioners in the exercise and performance of his powers.

In the third count, he is accused of conspiring to conceal from the designated officer a named account that Anglo was required to produce for inspection. In the fourth charge, it is alleged that he produced incorrect documentation.

Mr Browne also told Judge O’Donnell that in relation to reporting by the news media, the trial of three former officers of the bank was listed to begin on January 13th and “the present case has no factual connection with that”.

Nothing should be reported that would prejudice that trial or the proceedings involving Mr Daly, he added. The judge ordered that nothing prejudicial should be published.