A former charity worker has avoided prison after he failed to make tax returns on €1.2 million he earned while bringing athletes to Ireland to raise money for a US arthritis foundation.

The court heard Robert O’Sullivan (63) has reached a settlement with the Revenue to repay €871,000 including interest and penalties and that he has paid over most of this.

Judge Desmond Hogan noted the extensive character references handed in on the man’s behalf including one from former presidential candidate and head of Special Olympics Europe Mary Davis.

The judge said the references spoke very highly of O’Sullivan. The accused had faced up to matters “in an honourable way” and does not deserve to go to prison.

Judge Hogan imposed a two-year term which he suspended in full on condition O’Sullivan keeps the peace for 12 months.

O’Sullivan, of Grange Wood, Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making incorrect tax returns on dates in 2005. He has no previous convictions.

Aidan Murphy, a higher executive officer in the Revenue Commissioners, told John Byrne BL, prosecuting, that O’Sullivan’s tax affairs first came under scrutiny in July 2008.

At the time, O’Sullivan held two credit union accounts and he was told his tax affairs relating to his 2005 income were under examination.

‘Nothing to hide’

In September 2008, O’Sullivan went to the Revenue claiming he had “nothing to hide”. He said he would co-operate fully with the investigation and provided them with a completed statement of affairs for himself and his wife.

He said he had been a taxi driver since 2002 having retired from Eircom.

He received €118,000 on his retirement which he lodged into his credit union account and he later bought a property in Spain.

O’Sullivan said he began to work for the Arthritis Foundation of America in 1998 and he opened an account in the name of Robert O’Sullivan Arthritis Foundation.

He said his role was to arrange accommodation and other facilities for athletes coming from the US to participate in the Dublin City Marathon.

The foundation lodged cash in his account to cover those expenses.

He said he worked in a voluntary capacity and the arrangement ended in 2006 when the group stopped sending athletes to Ireland.