Galway’s Skeffington Arms makes €4m tax settlement

The Skeffington Arms Hotel, nightclub and bar, on Eyre Square, Galway, has made a €4.13 million settlement with the Revenue Commissioners following an investigation of its affairs.

The company that operates the business had underdeclared corporation tax, PAYE/PRSI, stamp duty and VAT, the investigation found.

The amount of tax underdeclared was €1.8 million and the settlement included interest of €951,744 and a penalty of €1.36 million.

The Skeffington Arms Hotel Ltd is owned by Thomas and Maeve Callanan, of Barna, Galway. The settlement is on a list of tax defaulters published today and which includes the Parnell GAA Club Ltd, of Coolock, Dublin.

The club made a €101,794 settlement arising from the underdeclaration of PAYE/PRSI and arising from a Revenue audit case. The tax involved was €72,435 with the rest comprising interest and penalties.

The largest settlement on the list was made by John Joseph McCarthy, formerly of Flower Lodge, Strawhall, Fermoy, Co Cork, who paid €6.28 million following a Revenue investigation.The retired company director made the settlement arising from the underdeclaration of income tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty.

In all there were 88 settlements listed, for a total value of €27.59 million. Settlements published are for amounts breach certain thresholds and the taxpayer is deemed not to have made a qualifying voluntary disclosure. The list covers settlements between July and September of this year.

Six of the settlements exceeded €1 million. A second business on Eyre Square appears on the list. Corrib House Hotels Ltd made a settlement of €371,892.