When is a garlic not a onion?
A decent Irishman is jailed over €1.6 million onion-garlic tax scam
V.A.T. 
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the import duty on garlic can be as much as 232 per cent.
The head of Ireland’s largest fruit and vegetable producers has been jailed for six years for a €1.6 million scam involving the importation of garlic.
Paul Begley (46) of Begley Brothers Ltd, based in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, avoided paying customs duty on over a thousand tonnes of garlic from China by having them labelled as apples.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the import duty on garlic is “inexplicably” high and can be up to 232 per cent. In contrast, onions have an import duty of 9 per cent.
The maximum sentence for the offence is five years in prison or a fine of three times the value of the goods.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed the maximum term on one count and one year on another count. These are to run consecutively, meaning a total of six years. “It gives me no joy at all to jail a decent man,” Judge Nolan said.
He said Begley is a “success story” an “asset to the country” in supporting the economy and providing employment. He noted Begley’s generosity and that he donates money to homeless charities and the St Vincent de Paul.
However, the judge added he had engaged in a “grave” and “huge” tax evasion scheme. The import tax on garlic “may or may not” be excessive, he said but that this was for the Oireachtas to decide and not individuals.
He said he had to impose a significant jail term because such offences are difficult to uncover and therefore the only effective deterrence is lengthy prison terms for those who are caught.
Begley of Woodlock, Redgap, Rathcoole pleaded guilty to four sample counts of evading customs duty between September 2003 and October 2007. The total amount of garlic involved 1,013 tonnes, worth €1.1 million.
Revenue Officer Denis Twohig told prosecuting counsel, Remy Farrell SC, that the scam was uncovered on October 9th, 2007 when customs officers at Dublin Port investigated a container that was supposed to contain 18 tonnes of apples and two tonnes of garlic. When they looked inside, they found 21 tonnes of garlic and no apples.
Mr Twohig said the import duty on apples is 9 per cent of the total value while the duty on garlic is €120 per kilo and an additional 9.6 per cent of the total value. The outstanding tax on this consignment alone was €25,000.
Following the find, Revenue Officers began an investigation into previous imports by the company. During a search of the headquarters, officers seized a series of emails between Begley and his garlic supplier in China which were exchanged over the course of four years. The emails told the supplier to falsify the importation documents to describe the shipments as apples rather than garlic.
The court heard Begley made full admissions and volunteered additional information during the investigation. He has been paying off debts over the last two years at €33,000 a month. A debt of €700,000 remains outstanding.
Defence counsel, David Keane SC, said Begley has been married for 18 years and has three teenage children. He inherited the family business from his uncle and it has grown to the largest producer and exporter of fruit and vegetables in Ireland and the fourth largest distributor.
Counsel pleaded with Judge Nolan not to impose a custodial sentence and said his client is willing to pay any fine the court may impose. He handed in character references detailing Begley’s charity work as well as an expert analysis of the “unique nature and level of duty on garlic”.
He said the rate was “inexplicable” and 24 times that of onions.
ON THEIR WAY – PROTESTERS LEAVE MALIN HEAD FOR DUBLIN
It’s going to take three long weeks but this was the scene as hardy souls began their walk from Malin Head to Dublin today. As our picture from Malin Head shows the members of the Donegal Action Against Austerity set out this morning to reach Dail Eireann by March 31st.
The walkers, which included unemployed builder Joe Murphy, are inviting people to walk a little or a lot of the way with them.
Today’s start saw the walkers join a rally in Carndonagh before they continue onwards.
Joe said the group are determined to continue to try and make a difference.
“We don’t know how many will join us on the walk, but we have been receiving messages of support from around the country. Even if people join us for a mile or two when we’re passing through their town, we would be delighted. “
“We understand that other groups from around the country will be protesting at the Ard Fheis on the 31st, so we are asking as many as possible to join us on the last leg of the walk. We were down in Dublin protesting last week, and it will be good to be back there again. We cannot let the government forget about us again.”
Businessman John McLaughlin understands that people might question the motives of the group, if not their sanity, and explains, “We are doing this for ourselves, our families, our friends and neighbours. We’ve sat back for too long, and we’re all guilty of it some way, but as far as we’re concerned, the time for sitting back is over. Austerity is affecting everyone from children to the elderly, but it only discriminates against the poor and vulnerable.”
“But if people do stand up and be counted, they can change things. I have huge respect for the pensioners who rose up against the last government when their medical cards were threatened, and we might well see that again very soon. It goes to show what can be achieved if people put in even a little effort.”
Six out of ten adults in Ireland are very nervous about reporting child abuse
6 out of 10 
Over half of adults are nervous about reporting a suspected case of child abuse.
A top children’s charity warned that wider society has “a duty of care” to youngsters after a survey showed concerned people in the west of Ireland do not know who to consult.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) found that 87% of people believe not enough information is readily available about child protection and welfare.
Caroline O’Sullivan, director of services with the ISPCC, said: “In society, we all have a duty of care to children. Children must come first.
“Historically, Ireland has failed to protect many vulnerable children from abuse and neglect.
“We must now develop as a society that does not tolerate the abuse of children and takes action when required to ensure their protection.”
The ISPCC said abuse still takes place every day acriss Ireland, with recent high-profile child abuse court cases, including the jailing of a woman for neglecting her five children, proving that youngsters are still at risk.
O’Sullivan said volunteers often hear from people worried about children in their extended family or local community but are unsure about who to turn to.
“The main thing is that they speak to someone, whether it be the ISPCC or a local social worker about these concerns.
“The safety of the child should always be the main consideration,” she added
The Northern Lights dazzle the Donegal skies (again!)
Skies above Donegal were ablaze last night, as predicted, with the eerie green glow of the Northern Lights.
The extraordinary display was brought to us courtesy of a massive solar flare that erupted on Wednesday, resulting in the biggest space weather storm in five years, according to David Moore of Astronomy Ireland.
The display was triggered by a massive solar flare erupting on Wednesday, which resulted in the biggest space weather storm in five years, resulting in danger for GPS systems and air flights.
Photographers converged on northern Donegal last night, with their images emerging on social media sites this morning.
The Aurora Borealis, the technical name for the Northern Lights, was also visible over parts of Ireland in January following increased solar activity early in the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment