Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for blackjack addicted businessman over €100k VAT fraud
Summary
John Leamy, a 51‑year‑old businessman from Aspen Lawn, Clonsilla, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming nearly €100,000 in VAT through fake invoices. The fraud, which spanned from January 2008 to February 2009, involved five counts of submitting incorrect VAT returns and two counts of failing to file annual tax returns for 2008 and 2009. Leamy, who had become addicted to blackjack and heavy drinking after his marriage ended, used 16 fabricated invoices to claim €99,817.67 in VAT and then drew cash from his company, JT Digital Ltd., by writing cheques payable to himself. The case was uncovered when his accountant, Paschal Murphy, noticed an error in the VAT percentage on two invoices from Printscene, a supplier of JT Digital, and reported the matter to the Revenue Commissioners. The prosecution, led by John Byrne BL, presented evidence that Leamy admitted providing false information to his accountant. John Leamy pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for blackjack addicted businessman over €100k VAT fraud. Charges or matters: five counts of submitting incorrect VAT returns between January 2008 and February 2009, and two counts of failing to file annual tax returns for the years 2008 and 2009. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2012 Other
- 2008 and 2009 Other
- 2015-12-04 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: five counts of submitting incorrect VAT returns between January 2008 and February 2009, and two counts of failing to file annual tax returns for the years 2008 and 2009 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said he had sympathy for Leamy but felt he did deserved a custodial sentence. He imposed 18 months imprisonment.
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