Northern Ireland

Co Armagh man admits VAT fraud amounting to more than £600,000

Joseph Thomas Cassidy (50) leaves Newry Crown Court
Joseph Thomas Cassidy (50) leaves Newry Crown Court Joseph Thomas Cassidy (50) leaves Newry Crown Court

A Co Armagh man has admitted to VAT fraud amounting to more than £600,000.

Joseph Thomas Cassidy (50) had been due to go on trial at Newry Crown Court but instead a defence lawyer asked for two of the eight charges to be put to him again.

Cassidy, from Killyfaddy Road, Armagh, entered guilty pleas to being “knowingly concerned in, or in the taking of steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of VAT” that resulted in an overpayment of £610,337 and transferring criminal property from the account of Anne Cassidy, with both offences committed on unknown dates between July 2011 and July 2015.

Following his confessions, a prosecution lawyer asked for the remaining charges to be “left on the books”.

At an earlier hearing, Anne Cassidy (51), from Drumarg Park, Armagh, admitted similar charges.

Freeing Joseph Cassidy on bail, Judge Gordon Kerr adjourned passing sentence until a pre-sentence report had been completed and lodged with the court.

Both Cassidys will be sentenced on November 21 and confiscation proceedings were also adjourned to that date.