THE REVENUE Commissioners are pursuing a businessman recently given a suspended sentence for VAT offences for more than €600,000 in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.

Naas District Court imposed a three-year suspended sentence on Austin P Brady of the Gallops, Naas, Co Kildare, after he pleaded guilty to a number of revenue offences relating to a IR£1.6 million property deal completed by his company, Paclene Ltd.

The total VAT, interest and penalties due from the deal, which was completed in 2001, stood at €611,327 when he was convicted last month.

While Brady was convicted, he is still obliged to pay the taxes and penalties to the Revenue.

The case dates back to March 2000, when Paclene took up an option to buy a factory at Gort Road Industrial Estate in Ennis, Co Clare, from Irish Polythene Industries for £600,000.

Paclene exercised the option a year later, and immediately resold the property to another company for £1.6 million plus VAT of £200,000.

The Revenue Commissioners told Naas District Court that no tax was paid or declared in respect of the deal.

Mr Brady subsequently pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to make correct VAT returns and to pay VAT when it was due, on behalf of himself and Paclene.

Mr Brady is a director and company secretary of Paclene, which has its registered address at the Gallops, Naas, Co Kildare.

Judge John O'Shea imposed concurrent three-year sentences for each of the four offences. He suspended the sentences and bound Mr Brady to the peace for five years.

Mr Brady is an experienced businessman and in the past served as director of another company, Machine Graphics Consultants International, which was based in Blessington Industrial Estate, Co Wicklow.

According to Companies Registration Office documents, he is still a director of Paclene.