A CRIMINAL Assets Bureau (Cab) officer was appointed as trustee in bankruptcy yesterday to a Dublin man who said he was a senior member of the Provisional IRA until 2004.
John Noonan, of Fettercairn, Tallaght, Co Dublin had provided security for U2 and on the sets of movies made in Ireland including Veronica Guerin, The General and Michael Collins through his company Strand Security Services Ltd.
The company also worked on Angela’s Ashes, The Butcher Boy, Intermission, The Magdelene Sisters and the recent television series The Tudors.
He stood for election for Sinn Féin in the 1980s and was also involved in anti-drugs campaigns in Tallaght.
Mr Noonan had attempted to avoid a tax assessment being pursued by Cab by claiming he had been operating a bank account for the IRA, the Bankruptcy Court heard yesterday.
He had declared himself a bankrupt last March and had debts of €4.2 million.
Court filings showed the debts included unpaid loans to Bank of Scotland, Permanent TSB, Ulster Bank and Tallaght Credit Union. He also owed €25,000 to Strand Security Services.
And he had tax assessments raised in the name of Cab for the years from 1996 to 2005.
The tax assessments related to “tax from illegal sources or sources unknown to the tax inspector”, the court had heard.
The total tax bill was over €2.5 million including interest.
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne was told yesterday Mr Noonan, who was present in court, had appealed the assessments and in the course of evidence had said he provided security services. He had also said that up until 2004, he was a senior member of the republican movement.
He claimed he had a bank account under the name of “Peter Simpson” which he operated for the republican movement.
But the tax assessments were confirmed in December 2009.
Chris Lehane, the Court’s Official Assignee who oversees bankruptcy cases, had interviewed Mr Noonan twice following his declaration of bankruptcy last year, in April and May, according to court documents.
But, Mr Lehane said in affidavit, Mr Noonan “refused to engage in a meaningful manner”.
The court was told yesterday the Cab’s legal officer, Frank Cassidy, had agreed to act as trustee to Mr Noonan’s bankruptcy.
This meant Mr Cassidy would take control of Mr Noonan’s assets until all of his debts were discharged.
Ms Justice Dunne agreed to make the appointment.
She also appointed Det Supt Denis O’Leary and Deputy Chief Supt Eugene Corcoran, Cab’s chief bureau officer, as members of the committee of inspection, which assists the trustee.
The case was adjourned until May.
