A prominent protester in the fuel blockade has had six judgments for a total of almost €550,000 secured against him by the Revenue Commissioners and animal cruelty convictions.
James Geoghegan, an agricultural contractor from Westmeath, has emerged as a spokesman for the protest since it began earlier this week, calling for reductions in fuel tax among other demands.
Revenue has secured six judgments against Mr Geoghegan in the past six-and-a-half years, the most recent of which was secured just over two weeks ago. The judgments are for a total of €548,804.
All six judgments are currently recorded as unsatisfied. However, Mr Geoghegan said today that they had all been satisfied, and claimed that Revenue actually owes him money.
"So there's no problems, as of today, it's up to date. They actually owe me money, would you believe? It's not an issue," he added.
He did not comment when asked whether his issues with the Revenue Commissioners compromised his credibility to call for reductions in excise duty, carbon tax or VAT in the context of the fuel protests.
Mr Geoghegan was also asked about his conviction on 13 charges relating to animal cruelty in 2006 after between 60 and 65 animals died on his farm in Cornaher, Tyrellspass, Co Westmeath during a 13-month period.
He was fined €6,250 in connection with a number of offences including leaving an animal with its head trapped, not providing water, not burying carcasses, and not feeding animals a wholesome diet.
He confirmed that he had been convicted but said the animal cruelty had not been his "issue".
"It was my name but it was before my time on the farm," said Mr Geoghegan. "It was my father’s time, it was my father’s farm. It wasn’t actually my issue and it was all sorted out. There was never any issues.
"It was nothing to do with me and there’s no point trying to bring up that sort of dirt on me now at this stage," he added.
Explaining why he had been convicted of the offences, Mr Geoghegan said "that was because the herd number was in my name, but it wasn’t my issue".
He claimed on RTÉ's Prime Time last night that there had been a "breakthrough" in the protests, and he expected to attend a meeting at Government Buildings this afternoon.
He confirmed that a withdrawal of carbon tax was on the "list of demands" ahead of the meeting, and revealed that his carbon tax bill was €21,000, questioning "Why should I pay it?"
He said Taoiseach Micheál Martin should write a cheque for €21,000 "and see how he feels about it".
Judgments secured by Revenue against Mr Geoghegan include one for €174,427 in October 2024, and another for €282,004 less than seven months later.
The most recent judgment for €7,816 was secured on 23 March, 2026, while others included judgments for €27,862 and €28,995 dating back to September 2019 and January 2020, respectively.
