Tax charge against TD Collins is dropped
Thursday, 28 September 2006 20:23
One of two charges relating to tax offences against the Limerick West TD Michael Collins has been dropped, the district court in Newcastlewest heard today.
The charges arose following failure by Mr Collins to disclose that he had a bogus non-resident account in 2002.
Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions gave no reason in court for not proceeding with the cheating charge.
The 65-year-old, of Red House Hill in Patrickswell, had faced two charges arising from a garda investigation into his tax affairs.
The first alleged that he cheated the Collector Generals Office by obtaining a tax clearance certificate under false pretences contrary to common law on a date unknown between 2 May and 31 May 2002.
He is further charged with obtaining a tax clearance certificate under the Standards in Public Office Act by falsely pretending to be tax compliant.
The district court in Newcastlewest was told today that the DPP was now withdrawing the cheating charge.
It heard that the Book of Evidence in the case had been served on Mr Collins on 8 August last and he was remanded on his own bail to appear at the next sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick in November.
