Local businesses named in Republic’s tax defaulters list

Voodoo nightclub in Letterkenny contributed 2.5k euro in a court fine for smuggling booze; the Railway Tavern in Fahan contributed 633 euro for failing to hold a current liquor licence; and a fuel station in Killea contributed 2.5k euro for failing to hold a current mineral oil licence.

The businesses were amongst 21 local firms or individuals featured in the Irish Revenue’s latest quarterly list of tax defaulters.

The Irish Revenue last week published details of audit/investigation settlements completed in the period January 2011 to March 2011.

The list was published in two parts with the first dealing with every person upon whom a fine or other penalty was imposed by a court and the second dealing with audit settlements where the Revenue Commissioners accepted a specified sum in excess of 12,700/33,000 euro in settlement of any additional liability for tax, interest and penalties instead of instituting proceedings for recovery.

William Derek Long, a steel supplier from Trentabouy, Ballybofey, agreed a total settlement of 57,845 euro after underdeclaring VAT.

Equally, O’Cofaigh Construction Ltd., a plant hire and construction company in Malin Head, agreed a total settlement of 84,459 for underdeclaring relevant contracts. The two settlements raised 143,304 euro for the Dublin Government.

Most of the Donegal businesses and individuals, however, had received fines from the courts for various tax irregularities.

Trevor Clarke, the operator of a Lifford amusement arcade, was fined 1,250 euro for failing to lodge income tax returns. Other firms and individuals fined for the same offence include DPH Groundworks Ltd., a Lisfannon groundworks contractor (fined 2.5k); Andrew Hetherington, a St Johnstone plant hire operator (fined 2.5k); Firmont Developments Ltd., a Ballyshannon property developer (fined 1.5k); Gary Foy, a Ballybofey, carpenter and company director (fined 1.25k); James Gallagher, a Ballybofey garage proprietor (fined 1.25k); Margaret Gavingan Peach, a Ballyshannon graphic designer (fined 1.25k); Gary Gillespie, a Ballyshannon haulier (fined 2.5k); Haulwest Transport Ltd., a Ballyshannon haulier (2.5k); M&N Groundworks, a Falcarragh plant hire firm (2.5k); and David Porter, a Castlefin farmer (fined 2.5k).

J&S Black Ltd., the owners of the popular Letterkenny bar and nightclub Voodoo were fined 2.5k euro for alcohol smuggling

Sean McDonagh, the Donegal businessman behind the Railway Tavern-Fire Boxgrill in Fahan, was fined 633 euro for not holding a current liquor licence.

James Cushnan of Paddy Mor’s in Kerrykeel; Josie Murray of Josie’s Bar, Letterkenny; Francie O’Donnell of The Markethouse, Ballyshannon; and Valbenish Investments Ltd., of Sean Óg’s, Ballyshannon, were all fined the same amount for the same offence.

Meanwhile, border petrol station Ivan Lapsley’s Fuel Station, Killea, was fined 2,500 euro for failing to hold a current mineral oil licence and Letterkenny hairdressing and beauty salon proprietor Sharon McGee was fined 3,500 euro for obstruction in detaining a motor vehicle.