Judge warns business woman that she must put her finances in order

A CONVICTION for failure to make a tax return on time was handed down at the District Court to Wexford business woman Brid Ni Dhubhgaill, address given as 66 South Main Street.

However, no penalty was recorded by Judge John Cheatle as the matter, along with 20 further prosecutions for similar offences were adjourned into the new year.

State Solicitor Kevin O’Doherty represented the Revenue Commissioners in the legal action over VAT returns (13 charges) and annual income tax returns (8 charges).

The prosecution appeared for the tenth time on the court list and State Solicitor Kevin O’Doherty told Judge John Cheatle that the defendant informed him she had appointed an accountant.

He observed that she had a long history of non-cooperation, telling the court that she had a household furnishing and furniture shop.

He indicated that Revenue had no wish to see Ms Ni Dhubhgaill saddled with fines to a total of €105,000, which would follow if all 21 charges lead to convictions.

He suggested that the court could record one conviction at this stage and adjourn the others for some months to see if she could put her financial house in order.

Accordingly, the judge handed down a conviction for failure to make her income tax return for 2015 on time and adjourned to a date in February.

The defendant looked for a longer adjournment, stating that the advice from the accountant was that the process might take six months.

‘It’s not rocket science,’ retorted Judge Cheatle, noting that VAT returns may be done on-line.

He said that she would have to stop coming into court with excuses, adding that she should not expect leniency if she keeps messing, as he put it. ‘Just tackle it,’ he urged before moving on to the next case.