An interim examiner has been appointed to one of Ireland's leading independent importers and distributors of wine, beers and spirits.
The High Court was told today that Galvin's Wines and Spirits of Blackrock, in Cork, had been the victim of a huge excise fraud.
The Revenue Commissioners are now demanding payment of just over six million euro in excise duties from Galvins Wholesale Limited.
The court was told the fraud relates to intra EU sales of wines and spirits.
In documents opened in court, Director John Galvin said the company operated a bonded warehouse for the storage and sale of wines and spirits. He said it had supplied goods to a delivery agent on foot of orders for delivery in France and Romania.
However, the court heard, the goods were retained by the customer while Galvin's received forged confirmations of delivery.
Galvin's disputes the Revenue Commissioners' demand.
The company is now unable to meet its debts the court heard and Mr Justice John Edwards appointed an interim examiner.
