Judge warns legal firm over failure to show in court
A legal firm retained by the Collector General's office has been warned it will be reported to the Law Society for investigation, writes Claire O'Brien.
Ivor Fitzpatrick and Sons failed to appear at Mullingar District Court to represent the Collector General, who is seeking an instalment order against a Westmeath builder who has gone out of business owing almost €250,000 in unpaid taxes.
Judge John Neilan warned that if he does not hear from the firm shortly, he will direct the Law Society to investigate.
He wanted to know the Collector's view on the reality of realising the builder's assets by selling completed houses and disposing of €3.3m assets on the books of Seamus P Farrelly, Templanstown, Castlepollard. But the lack of representation made this impossible.
He said it was inappropriate, however, to strike out the Collector's application.
