Former Irish chef d’equipe fined €225,000 for tax dodging

Tommy Wade, the former chef d’equipe of the Irish show jumping team, has been forced to pay €225,000 in unpaid taxes and fines.

Mr Wade, from Ballyroe House, Gooldscross, Cashel, Co Tipperary, was named in a list of settlements for the last three months of 2008 published by the Irish Revenue Commissioners on 10 March.

He has agreed to pay €90,470 in taxes relating to under declaration of income and a bogus non-residential bank account. Fines and penalties of €134,530 take the total to €225,000.

In June 2004 Mr Wade was forced to step down as chef d’equipe after team members revolted following moves to have team trainer Eddie Macken removed.

Mr Wade and the team’s selectors had dismissed Mr Macken as trainer in the run up to the Athens Olympics but Mr Macken was returned as trainer and chef d’equipe after seven long-listed members of the Olympic team wrote to the selectors.

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