Revenue asks court to jail car dealer

The High Court heard an application by the Revenue Commissioners to lift a suspended six-month prison sentence imposed on a Granard car dealer in 2012 for contempt of court. Pauraig Kane, formerly involved with Kane Motors, owes €5.2 million in unpaid taxes dating from a 2004 assessment. The Revenue claimed Mr Kane breached conditions attached to the suspended sentence, including an obligation to clear vehicles from the yard and refrain from dealing in third-party cheques. The Revenue also alleged he failed to sell nine properties as undertaken to discharge his tax debt. Mr Kane's legal team opposed the application, denying deliberate non-compliance. The defendant maintained he had attempted to fulfil the court's orders, though he acknowledged no money had been paid to Revenue. He attributed difficulties with property sales to a solicitor's suspension and negative equity issues. The case was adjourned to continue.