VAT case told of need for 'paddy wagon'

A STATE solicitor said yesterday that a “paddy wagon” would be necessary to carry the 3,500 exhibits in a case concerning alleged VAT offences relating to amounts totalling more than €1.5 million.

At Killaloe District Court, Derek Floyd (36) of Lower Main Street, Tulla, Co Clare appeared in relation to a total of 41 charges relating to alleged VAT offences concerning amounts totalling €1.55 million from a period between March 2001 to January 2004.

In court yesterday, State solicitor Martin Linnane applied for an extension of time in which to index and furnish to court 3,500 exhibits relating to the case.

Mr Linnane said that a book of evidence had already been prepared. He told the court that a “paddy wagon” would be needed to carry “the boxes and boxes containing the 3,500 exhibits”.

Processing the exhibits would involve the printing of 20,000 pages and he was busy preparing other books of evidence, Mr Linnane said.

Solicitor for Mr Floyd, Daragh McCarthy, applied that the charges against his client be struck out as it was 231 days since he was first before the court on the charges. He said: “My client is prejudiced by the charges hanging over him.”

Judge Joseph Mangan said the fact that Mr Linnane had other books of evidence to prepare should have no bearing on the case, adding that the fact he was overworked was a matter for the authorities to address.

Refusing the application to strike out the charges, the judge said he would allow additional time for the exhibits to be lodged due to the complexity of the case.

The judge made his order peremptory against the State, which means that if the State does not have the material ready for September 1st, the charges will be struck out.