Courts / Carlow / Report

"Repeat offender" accountant has fine for providing false auditor reports increased by Court of Appeal

Date
2014-11-28
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Carlow
County
Carlow

Summary

In a decision by the Court of Appeal on 28 November 2014, professional accountant Ignatius Forde, aged 62 and resident on Burrin Street, Carlow, was ordered to pay an increased fine of €3,000 and to carry out 200 hours of community service. The order followed a May 1 judgment by Judge Terence O'Sullivan at the Carlow Circuit Criminal Court, where Forde had been fined €1,000 for furnishing false auditor reports. Forde had originally faced 50 counts under sections 187 and 242 of the Companies Act, pleaded guilty early, and had previously been convicted of similar offences, including a six‑year suspended sentence in 2009. The Court of Appeal, agreeing with the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the original sentence unduly lenient, noting that Forde had used the names and signatures of qualified auditors and had falsely represented himself as one.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Repeat offender" accountant has fine for providing false auditor reports increased by Court of Appeal. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: "A prison sentence was arguably warranted because of his repeat offending", Mr Justice Mahon said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ignatius Forde

Appellant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Not only did Forde receive a conviction from the District Court in 2007 for similar offences but in March 2009 he received a six year suspended sentence. Mr Justice Mahon, who sat alongside Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan ordered that Forde undertake 200 hours of community service in lieu of a 12-month sentence.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Carlow Cricuit Criminal Court
Residence
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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