The combination of two tax settlements cost Leas Cross owner John Aherne and one of his companies almost €1 million in 2000, it has emerged.
While sub-standard care at the Leas Cross nursing home is now the subject of Garda scrutiny, Mr Aherne's only previous brush with publicity was when he settled his tax affairs five years ago.
Based at Lispopple in Swords, north Co Dublin, the businessman is believed to be planning a new Alzheimer's unit at the nursing home.
He was a target in 2000 of Revenue's investigation into National Irish Bank. According to Iris Oifigiúl, his settlement for underdeclared income tax included interest and penalties of £233,935 and tax of £224,282, a total of £458,217 (€581,935).
Companies Office records for 2000 show that Mr Aherne owned 99 per cent of the shares in Sovereign Engineering, which installs air-conditioning systems. The other 1 per cent was held by Ms Genevieve Aherne of the same address.
The company was the subject of a Revenue audit in 2000 and was found to have under-declared corporation tax and VAT. The settlement in this case included tax of £134,206 and penalties of £172,434, a total £306,640 (€389,432).
Taken together, the two tax settlements cost €971,367.
Official filings disclose that the nursing home and adjoining land were revalued in 2000 at €3.8 million. In the year to January 31st, 2003, the company sold 15.09 acres around the nursing home for €1.14 million.
The nursing home property was valued in the most recent accounts at €2.77 million.
