The former Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners has said he sees no reason, even now, why the investigation branch should have examined the affairs the affairs of the Haughey family. Seamus Pairceir also told the Moriarty Tribunal of the sensitivities involved in dealing with the Haughey case, and others like it, because of the personalities involved.
The Moriarty Tribunal heard earlier that the Revenue Commissioners threatened Charles Haughey with court proceedings a week before he was due to be elected Taoiseach in March 1987. They were seeking an outstanding capital gains tax bill of over £50,000. For almost a full year Mr Haughey's accountants failed to respond to requests and letters from the commissioners. Not until they were faced with an appeal hearing in 1986 did Haughey/Boland finally acknowledge a capital gains tax liability in the case of the Gallagher deposit. By the time the election rolled around in February 1987 Mr Haughey still owed the revenue over £50,000.
Christopher Clayton of the Revenue Commissioners wrote to Haughey Boland saying that until now they had handled Mr Haughey's affairs "sensitively and quietly and had no wish to change that position". However, Mr Clayton pointed out that the court proceedings were imminent and they should consider this as a matter of urgency. Despite these threats a final payment was not received for another year. Mr Clayton is also being asked why the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners got involved in Mr Haughey's case and monitored it quite intensely. He agreed this was unusual but that the chairman should have got involved in delicate or sensitive matters.
