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Former newspaper delivery man jailed over unpaid VAT has sentence reduced on appeal
Summary
Dean O'Reilly, a 43‑year‑old former newspaper delivery man from Castlemoyne, Balgriffin, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in June 2015 for failing to remit VAT to the Revenue from January 2008 to December 2011. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced his custodial term to 12 months, with the final four months suspended. O'Reilly owed €59,226 in VAT, which rose to €246,195 in penalties and interest. The Revenue also secured a mortgage judgment over his home, which he bought with his wife for €410,000, and owed €600,000 to Start Mortgages. He entered a €100 bond to keep the peace and maintain good behaviour during custody and for three years after release. The appeal was brought by his barrister, Pauline Walley SC. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former newspaper delivery man jailed over unpaid VAT has sentence reduced on appeal. Charges or matters: failing to remit VAT to the Revenue from January 2008 to December 2011. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 29 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 10 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-10-27 Publication
Why: The sentencing judge said he was "sorry to do this" when jailing O'Reilly because he was "a hard working man" but seemed to have "ignored the Revenue totally". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: failing to remit VAT to the Revenue from January 2008 to December 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on June 29 2015. O'Reilly, through his barrister Pauline Walley SC, successfully appealed his sentence today and the Court of Appeal re-sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment with the final four months suspended.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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