Lecturer may challenge ruling

A university lecturer whose company, which never traded or functioned, was fined £900 following a failure to file annual returns…

A university lecturer whose company, which never traded or functioned, was fined £900 following a failure to file annual returns to the Companies Office, has been given leave by the High Court to challenge the refusal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to lift the fines.

Mr Seamus O Cinneide, of Charleville Road, Rathmines, Dublin claimed his petition to remit the fines was before three Ministers for Justice for four years before it was refused.

Mr Justice McCracken granted leave to seek a judicial review of the Minister's refusal to Mr O Cinneide, his wife, Moira Higgins, and the company - Nester National and European Social Topics Research (Irl). The proceedings are also taken against the State.

Mr Justice McCracken also gave Mr O Cinneide leave to seek an alternative order requiring the Minister to state all the evidence and information he had before refusing to remit the fines.