Tough talking TD’s brother sold illegal cigarettes
A BROTHER of tough-talking junior minister Jim Daly has pleaded guilty to selling illegal cigarettes.
Fine Gael TD Daly, now Minister of State for Older People and Mental Health, hit the headlines last year for taking a tough law-and-order approach to anti-water charges protesters, even accusing RTÉ of egging them on.
His shopkeeper brother John, 50, has admitted selling cigarettes and tobacco on which he had not paid tax. His solicitor told how he wrote to the customs officer involved, accepting he was wrong and saying he wanted to balance the books and avoid court.
Customs officer Fiana Harrington told Clonakilty District Court that the illegal tobacco products were found after Revenue officials were tipped off. The shop was raided on November 4 last year.
Prosecuting solicitor Malachy Boohig said the State lost over €400 in unpaid taxes. The court heard that the penalty was a €5,000 fine. But this could be halved because John Daly had no previous convictions.
His solicitor James Brooks said: ‘He was tempted, because of a decline in revenue, to purchase them without going through customs and was apprehended. It’s a hands-up from day one and a pleading letter.’
Mr Brooks said he spoke to the solicitor for the State about whether the judge could use her discretion in the case, but the court was told that the Revenue Commissioners wanted the case to proceed.
Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until December 5. She said: ‘I am giving them [Revenue] an opportunity to alter their view and if they do not, you may tell them that I might use my discretion.’
Contacted this week through his solicitor, John Daly declined to comment. Earlier this year Jim Daly claimed RTÉ had ‘egged on’ civil disobedience by putting the details of water protests on their website.