Courts / Clare / Report
Extradition of man behind multi-million pound tax fraud "in public interest", court told
Summary
In a High Court hearing on 15 January 2019, the court considered the extradition of Daniel O'Connell, a 65‑year‑old Cork man, to the United Kingdom to serve a custodial sentence related to a multimillion‑euro VAT fraud. O'Connell was arrested in 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities. He had previously been sentenced in 2000 to eight years' imprisonment for five offences of knowingly evading VAT, and in 2003 received an additional seven‑year sentence for non‑payment of a confiscation order of almost £6 million. By 2016 the order's balance was nearly £6 million plus £5.5 million in interest. The court heard that the confiscation order remained outstanding, making the extradition necessary to enforce the overall sentence. O'Connell's counsel argued that the 17‑year delay invalidated the order under the European Convention on Human Rights, citing disproportionate penalties and lack of evidence of payment ability.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Extradition of man behind multi-million pound tax fraud "in public interest", court told. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2000 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2003 Other
- January 2003 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2004 Incident
- 1997 to 1999 Other
- 2019-01-15 Publication
Why: The High Court heard today that under English law, this sentence is an integral part of the overall sentence imposed upon Mr O'Connell in respect of these offences, and it runs consecutively to the original sentence because the confiscation order remained outstanding. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: A sentence of imprisonment was imposed on Mr O'Connell for non-payment of a confiscation order imposed as an integral part of a sentence for five offences of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of Value Added Tax, contrary to Section 72(1) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, in August 2000 at the Crown Court sitting at Middlesex Guildhall. Mr O'Connell was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for these offences in August 2000 but was released on licence in March 2003.; The hearing continues on Friday before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, who remanded Mr O'Connell on continuing bail until then.
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- Man behind £20m tax scam to be extradited to UK
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