A man trying to give up cigarettes decided to try to sell them online rather than throw them in the bin, Navan Court was told. The cigarettes did not have the required Irish tax stamp. Alexandriu Mihai Codau of Tubberclaire Meadows Navan faced charges as a result. The court was told that a “controlled purchase” was set by by the Revenue Commissioners and it was found that the 1,000 cigarettes offered by the defendant did not have the necessary tax stamp. The loss to the Revenue was €650, it was stated.
Defending solicitor Maurice Regan said that his client bought the cigarettes to smoke them but was trying to give them up at the same time. The penalty in the case was €5,000 mitigated to €2,500. Mr Regan said that his client had a clear record and that he had cooperated with the investigation. “I don’t think he made much money out of this”, the solicitor said. Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a fine of €2,500 with six months to pay.
