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Shop owner jailed for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol

Summary

Radu Budai, 40, of Lucan, was found guilty of Revenue offences for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol in his shop on Upper Dorset Street. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 March 2023. Revenue officers, led by Marie Treacy, entered the shop and discovered bottles of wine without Irish tax stamps, boxes of brandy and wine, and homemade alcohol in large plastic containers. A female employee showed officers a Romanian identity card and was interviewed. Budai was present during the search but was not questioned. The court heard that the goods were seized. In mitigation, his defence counsel argued that Budai was trying to compete with larger shops, had family responsibilities, and had health issues including sleep apnoea and a gastric balloon surgery. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Budai's family situation but noted the profit motive and the €27,000 loss to Revenue.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Shop owner jailed for selling untaxed Romanian cigarettes and alcohol. Charges or matters: Revenue offences at his shop on Upper Dorset Street on March 7, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 7, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-04-07 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report