Independent FF TD Michael Collins has case on tax clearance certificate adjourned to last week in July
A Co Limerick TD who was charged following a Garda investigation into his tax affairs will not stand trial until after the general election, a court has heard.
Michael Collins, Independent Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West, appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick yesterday where his case was adjourned until July 24th.
A long-standing member of Fianna Fáil, Mr Collins has been an independent TD since 2003 when he resigned the party whip after his name appeared on a list of tax defaulters. He is not running for the Dáil again.
Mr Collins (65), White Oak, Red House, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, is charged with obtaining a tax clearance certificate by false pretences, contrary to section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The offence allegedly took place in May 2002.
A second charge of cheating the Office of the Collector General by applying for a tax clearance cert when he had undeclared tax liabilities was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions last September when Mr Collins was returned for trial at Rathkeale District Court.
At Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, Mr Collins's defence counsel Paul Greene told Judge Carroll Moran he was seeking to have his client's arraignment adjourned until July 24th.
Mr Greene said this was for a number of reasons including the "sensitivity" of the case and the "particular stage in the electoral cycle".
He told the court his client was currently a member of the Oireachtas and was anxious to be tried in "as dispassionate an atmosphere as possible".
Mr Greene said there was also a number of personal reasons for seeking the adjournment.
He did not wish to go into these.
Judge Moran described July 24th as a "very long way away" but agreed to the request after hearing from counsel for the DPP that the State had no objection to the lengthy adjournment.
Mr Collins, who was in court yesterday with some members of his family, is a brother of the former Fianna Fáil minister and MEP Gerard Collins.
The Collins family has held a seat in the Dáil for the West Limerick constituency for the past 60 years.
Michael Collins's nephew, councillor Niall Collins, is due to replace his uncle on the Fianna Fáil ticket in this summer's general election.