A Waterford-based accountant on trial for aiding and abetting the filing of incorrect VAT returns, yesterday insisted that he knew nothing about the sale of an Ennis premises at the centre of the case when he filled out the relevant forms, writes Barry Roche , Southern Correspondent.51-year-old John O'Donohue, of Waterside House, Waterside, denies a charge that he did knowingly around May 16th, 2001, aid and abet Paclene, a limited liability company, to deliver an incorrect return in relation to VAT for the period March/April 2001. The Irish Times reports thast yesterday, Mr O'Donohue took the witness box as the defence opened its case on the third day of the trial and he strongly denied prosecution claims he knew that Paclene had sold a property in Ennis, Co Clare, for £1.6 million punts when he filled out a VAT return.
The case at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court revolves around Paclene's purchase on March 22nd, 2001, of a factory in Ennis from a company called Irish Polythene Industries (IPI) for a sum of £600,000 and its sale on the same day for £1.6 million (€2 million) to Galileo Enterprises. The State alleges Paclene was entitled to a 12 per cent VAT rebate of £75,000 on its £600,000 purchase of the premises but had a 12 per cent VAT liability of £200,000 on its subsequent £1.6 million sale of the premises and that none of these were declared in a VAT return.
