This article is from page 17 of the 2009-09-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A FORENSIC accountant is set to examine 5,000 documents served on an east Clare man who is facing VAT related offences on amounts totalling over €1.5 million.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Derek Floyd (36) of 21 Lower Main Street, Tulla appeared on 24 charg- es relating to alleged VAT offences on amounts totalling €1.55 million between March 2001 and January mauler
The case was returned from trial to the circuit court from Killaloe Dis- trict Court earlier this month.
In court yesterday, counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL said that the case could require a special judge and asked Judge Carroll Moran to set aside three weeks for the case.
Counsel for Mr Floyd, Pat Whyms BL said that over 5,000 documents were served on his client and he re- quested that the legal aid certificate be extended to cover a forensic ac- countant to examine the documenta- none
Mr Whyms said that the sums in- volved are significant. The case was taken over the alleged non-payment of taxes and he requested that the legal aid cert to also cover a second counsel.
Judge Carroll Moran granted both applications.
Mr Floyd is facing 12 charges of knowingly claiming repayments in VAT totalling €678,857 which to his knowledge he was not entitled to contrary to Section 1078 of the Taxes Consolidation Act on a period from April 1, 2001 to January 7, 2004.
Two of the 12 charges relate to in- dividual repayments in VAT claimed by Mr Floyd of €156,136 on Septem- ber 9, 2002 and a second payment of € 133,506 on June 27, 2003.
He is also facing an additional 12 charges concerning his alleged fail- ure to remit VAT payments to the Collector General totalling €880,913 between May 2001 and November 2003.
Judge Moran adjourned the case to the next call over of the circuit court and Mr Floyd remains on bail.