Lowry accountant ‘unaware of letter’

AN accountant who did work for Michael Lowry’s company in 2007 has said he wasn’t aware of a letter signed by the Independent TD and read out in court requesting that €372,000 be included in the previous year’s accounts.

Kevin Burke, who worked as an accountant with BBT Accountants, was referred to a ‘pre-payments lead schedule’ dated February 16, 2007. He said this schedule allows for payments outside the accounting year to be accounted for in an appropriate way.

He agreed with prosecutor Remy Farrell, SC that it seems the total recorded by him, before the addition of the €372,000 figure, was €67,941. Mr Burke was then referred to a journal entry which recorded a pre-payment of €372,000 and sales of €372,000 for the year ending December 31, 2006.

He said the impact of this entry was to increase the sales of the year by €372,000. He said the entry ‘doesn’t ring a bell’ with him, telling the jury it was not his handwriting.

Mr Lowry, 61, of Glenreigh, Holycross, Co. Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of filing incorrect tax returns on dates between August 2002 and August 2007, in relation to a sum of Stg£248,624 received by his company, Garuda Ltd.

He also denies one charge of failing to keep a proper set of accounts on dates between August 28, 2002 and August 3, 2007, and has pleaded not guilty on behalf of Garuda Ltd to three similar charges. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.