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Pensions Ombudsman secures conviction

Friday, September 07 14:34:07

A Westmeath businessman has been fined E2,500 and will have to pay cost after the Pensions Ombudsman helped secure a conviction for failure to remit staff pension payments.

In Mullingar District Court, Mr. John Carter who traded as A and A Insulation, was found guilty of failure to comply with a request of the Pensions Ombudsman to produce documentation in relation to a complaint alleging that a former employee's pension contributions were deducted from their wages and that the employer failed to remit such deductions to the relevant pension scheme.

The Pensions Ombudsman Mr Paul Kenny sought to investigate the complaint but was met with continued refusal to supply payroll documentation.

"As I have said many times previously, I will not be deterred in completing my investigations by companies or individuals who take it on themselves to ignore my requests for information in the hope that I will go away," he said.

"Consequently I have no hesitation in pursuing those who seek to obstruct my investigation through the courts. In this case, the end result is that Mr. Carter has now a criminal conviction, has been fined and I have obtained the information from him. In hindsight perhaps Mr. Carter would have been better served to have cooperated with my investigation," said Mr Kenny.