FINE GAEL has expressed regret after one of its county councillors appeared on the latest list of tax defaulters.
The party gave no indication that it would be taking any action in the case of Co Offaly councillor Percy Clendennen, who reached a €125,000 settlement with the Revenue Commissioners for under-declaration of VAT.
Mr Clendennen, a publican and farmer from Kinnitty, near Birr, made the settlement after a Revenue audit found that he had under-declared VAT by €62,500.
The rest of the settlement was accounted for by penalties and interest.
Mr Clendennen has been a councillor in Birr since 1974.
A Fine Gael spokeswoman said it was a matter of regret for the party that any local authority member would not be tax-compliant and would have to make a settlement with the Revenue as a result.
Mr Clendennen indicated yesterday he had no intention of resigning from the council in spite of appearing on the tax defaulters’ list.
His son John said: “My father definitely feels it’s appropriate to continue as a county councillor. As far as he is concerned, there is no reason for him to forfeit his seat.”
John Clendennen, who ran unsuccessfully for the Seanad this year, said his father’s interaction with Revenue was “not a closed case” as far as the family was concerned but that he had agreed a settlement in order to minimise the penalties due.
