A retired accountant who was criticised in the Ansbacher report into illegal off-shore accounts has been disqualified from involvement in the management of any company for five years.
The High Court issued the disqualification order today against John J (Jack) Stakelum after finding Mr Stakelum had engaged "in a calculated way" in activities which facilitate tax evasion and had used an elaborate scheme to conceal monies from the Revenue authorities.
Mr Stakelum even went so far as to destroy all records when he retired in 1998, Mr Justice Brian McGovern said. He added that he "simply did not accept" that Mr Stakelum, as a chartered accountant, was not aware of the implications of what he was doing.
There was evidence Mr Stakelum engaged in secretive conduct to facilitate tax evasion. He was satisfied the evidence established that Mr Stakelum was unfit to be concerned in the management of a company.
The disqualification order was sought by the Director of Corporate Enforcement arising from the inspectors' report into the affairs of Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd and related matters from 1971 to 1999.
Director of Corporate Enforcement Paul Appleby welcomed today's decision of the High Court.
"The proceedings involving Mr Stakelum represent the third and final disqualification action taken by the Director arising directly from the Ansbacher inspectors' report," Mr Appleby said in a statement.
Pádraig Collery was disqualified for nine years on March 9th last year and Sam Field-Corbett was disqualified for three years on January 30th this year.