An American eye surgeon wanted by the US authorities for failing to pay over $1.5 million in maintenance and child support was given a three-year suspended jail sentence yesterday at Loughrea circuit court.
Dr William Porter (53), who has an address in Kinsale, Co Cork, has been ordered to surrender his Irish passport. His US passport, which has been revoked, is to be surrendered to the American embassy.
At a two-hour hearing before Judge Harvey Kenny it was revealed that his licence to practice as an eye surgeon had also been revoked in the United States.
Judge Kenny made a discovery order in respect of all monies held by Dr Porter and his second wife, Margaret, in Irish banks, either in this country or in offshore accounts.
Adjourning the case to April, the Judge said he expected Dr Porter to recommence work and to rehabilitate himself so that he could discharge some of the money owed.
Dr Porter has been pursued on charges of felony and child abandonment by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney in California since 1993.
Dr Porter told the court that over £100,000 which the court had heard was contained in accounts opened here in 1996 and in the Isle of Man was savings from his time working in Saudi Arabia. That money had since been spent on living.
He said he had left the United States "almost penniless", and admitted, "I am terrible with money and I apologise."
The case is the first to be heard here under a new agreement between Ireland and the US for the recovery of maintenance payments.