A date has been set for the trial of a Co Clare company director who faces charges in England arising out of an alleged "missing trader" VAT fraud estimated at £162 million (€240 million).
Mr Dylan Creaven (30), originally from Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare, but who lived at Woodstock on the outskirts of Ennis, is a founder and director of Ennis-based components distributor Silicon Technologies Europe.
He was arrested on November 19th, 2002, following a joint investigation codenamed "Operation Chipstick".
The operation was a joint venture between British Customs & Excise, officers from Customs & Excise Enforcement in Ireland and the Criminal Assets Bureau of An Garda Síochána.
Mr Creaven was released from Wandsworth Prison last October, where he had spent the previous eleven and a half months.
Mr Creaven's bail was set at £500,000 and he was forced to give up his passport and was told that he may not apply for any travel documents.
His trial is due to begin at London's Blackfriar's Crown Court on April 5th, 2005. In June, an application to have the trial dropped was dismissed.
Mr Creavan first appeared in court on November 21st, 2001, when he was formally charged with cheating the UK Exchequer of £162 million and of money laundering.
He is alleged to have used his company, Silicon Technology Europe, in a so-called carousel fraud, also known as "VAT missing trader fraud", to export and re-export microprocessors while claiming back the VAT each time.
In judicial review proceedings taken last year, Mr Creaven and his two companies, Silicon Technologies Europe Ltd and Brandenville Holdings in Limerick, challenged two sets of search warrants issued on November 18th, 2002.
During searches at Mr Creavan's home in Ennis and three other premises, a large number of documents were seized.
A High Court judge ruled earlier this year that correct procedures were not adhered to when the British authorities obtained warrants to seize those documents.
The files were later sent to England and were expected to be used as part of the prosecution's case against Mr Creavan.
"VAT missing trader fraud" is where fraudsters obtain VAT registration to acquire goods VAT-free from other member-states.
Goods are then sold on at VAT inclusive prices and the culprits disappear without paying over the VAT to the tax authorities.
Silicon Technologies Europe Ltd operates out of offices in Ennis owned by Shannon Development.