A Co Wexford animal feeds manufacturer who made a £4 million tax deal following a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation has said he is innocent of any connection with Angel Dust distribution or money-laundering.
Mr Eamonn Galavan, the managing director of Galavan Supplements Ltd, based in Bree near Enniscorthy, has maintained that a confidential agreement he made with the CAB was breached and that certain media reports seriously misrepresented the situation in a manner which damaged him and his business.
Mr Galavan said the media linking of his tax settlement with criminal acts, such as handling or dealing in Angel Dust, was a "total falsification of the true position".
"My name appeared on a joint account in an American bank and it is only for that reason that I came to the attention of the CAB," he said. He added that he was not suspected by the CAB of involvement with prohibited substances or in related money-laundering.
Mr Galavan said he and his family were "in total shock and dismay" following certain newspaper reports.
He said he came to the attention of the CAB because his name appeared on a joint account in a bank in Laredo, Texas, where he had been involved in legitimate businesses. He ceased to be involved about two years ago but records of transactions remained.
He was arrested by the CAB on the morning of October 3rd last and interviewed in Enniscorthy Garda station. "I couldn't believe it," he said. "I thought I was in dreamland. It was so traumatic.
"I am innocent. It was during an investigation that they happened on me and discovered that I owed money to the tax people. We agreed to pay and get on with our business. We couldn't believe it when details of the agreement appeared in the media."
He said the first indication he had that his tax deal was to be made public was when an RTE film crew arrived in his yard.
And when certain newspaper reports appeared linking him with an investigation into the circulation of profits believed to have been made from Angel Dust distribution, he couldn't believe it. "I was in such shock, I didn't know what to do," he said.
"I am innocent. I am a victim. I have been damaged," he reiterated. "The support of customers and friends, ringing to say they were as disbelieving as we were, helped a lot. We would like to convey our gratitude to all the people who expressed their support."
A copy of Mr Galavan's statement was faxed by arrangement to the office of the CAB but Det Chief Supt Felix McKenna said the CAB had no comment.