A PRINCIPAL tax officer who is charged with conspiring to defraud the Revenue Commissioners of more than £3.8 million was said in the Limerick City Court yesterday to have failed to meet bail terms of two independent sureties of £50,000 each and his own personal bail of £5,000 imposed at last week's hearing.
Mr Brendan F Murphy (44), of Fielbrook, Parteen, Co Clare, was remanded in custody until today's court. His solicitor, Mr Ted McCarthy, said he would then have two persons available who would be able to go bail for him. Judge Michael Reilly had varied the bail conditions to a personal surety of £10,000 and two independent sureties of £20,000 each.
Mr Murphy is charged with conspiring with a Mr Brendan Doherty to defraud the Revenue Commissioners of £3,826,716 on dates unknown between January Island June 18th, 1997.
The judge imposed seven conditions of bail: that Mr Murphy should reside at 12 Fielbrook, Parteen; report to Henry Street Garda station, Limerick, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily; surrender his passport; not apply for a new or substitute passport; that he should not interfere with witnesses or contact a Mr Brendan Doherty; and that he would not visit his former place of employment in Limerick.
The judge granted Mr Murphy liberty to apply to the District Court for variation of bail conditions in the event of his imminent admission to hospital but 48 hours' notice would have to be given to the Garda.
Mr McCarthy had told the court that his client was due to enter St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, for the removal of a mole from his neck. Judge Reilly said he would want evidence from a surgeon on when Mr Murphy was going into hospital and how long he would be there.