Drumsurn man told pay £100k overIraq tax scam

Mark McAteer, 32, from Gortnarney Road, outside Limavady, was jailed in May 2013 after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed he had claimed to be building water purification plants in Basra and Mosul in Iraq.

However, he didn’t have the funds to pay for the goods and services required to build the plants.

He told suppliers he needed invoices in advance to get letters of credit from the Iraqi Government to fund this multi-million dollar contract.

McAteer used the invoices as part of a false VAT refund claim totalling £567,420.17.

Mike Parkinson, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “McAteer deliberately set out to create a false paper-trail so that he could claim money that he was not entitled to. He manipulated a system that exists for the benefit of legitimate companies with the sole purpose of lining his own pockets.

“Today’s hearing will serve as a reminder that action does not stop with a prison sentence. We will pursue every avenue to ensure money is reclaimed for the taxpayer and public finances.”

Mr McAteer was sentenced in May 2013 to 27 months in prison and 27 months on licence. In December 2013 his sentenced was reduced to two years in prison and one year’s probation by the Court of Appeal.

He appeared at Londonderry Crown Court on Tuesday (October 21) where the order was granted.

Anyone with information about people or businesses involved in tax fraud can contact HMRC through the Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 88