Kevin Rabbitte disqualified over €1.2m VAT fraud

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Kevin Rabbitte was disqualified for 14 years and three months over involvement in VAT fraud at the High Court, reported on 30 January 2020. The fraud resulted in Revenue being defrauded of more than €1.2m. Rabbitte, a director of Westman Plant and Civils Limited, consented to a declaration that he had knowingly carried out business with the intention of defrauding the company’s creditors, including the Revenue Commissioners. He also consented to personal responsibility for €1.5m of the company’s debts and liabilities. The court heard that the company’s VAT number was used to buy machinery and plant equipment imported mainly from the UK between July 2014 and June 2015, with VAT not paid when the goods were sold in Ireland. The company was later wound up.

The application was brought by the company’s liquidator. The judge described the matter as serious and said it merited a significant disqualification.