Green Hen Restaurant Accused of Trading While Insolvent and Serving Alcohol Without a Licence
Dublin Restaurant Faces Liquidation After Allegedly failing to Pay Hundreds of thousands in Taxes
Dublin, Ireland – A popular Dublin restaurant, The Green Hen, is facing liquidation after allegedly failing to pay hundreds of thousands of euros in taxes. The Irish Revenue Commissioners have raised serious concerns about the restaurant’s financial practices, questioning where the missing tax revenue went.
The Green Hen, a well-known eatery on Exchequer Street, was seeking protection from creditors in court. However, the Revenue Commissioners refused to grant the restaurant a tax clearance certificate, effectively preventing it from obtaining a liquor license – a crucial element for its survival.
Court documents reveal that The Green Hen owes €751,266 in unpaid taxes dating back to December 2019.This includes PAYE, PRSI, USC, local property tax, corporation tax, and VAT. Despite generating a turnover of €2.2 million last year and €2.3 million in 2022, the restaurant has been operating without a tax clearance certificate.
adding to the controversy, excise control officers were served alcohol at The Green Hen this year, even tho the restaurant’s liquor license expired in September 2022. Receipts obtained by the Revenue Commissioners show purchases of alcoholic beverages, including Sailor Jerry spiced Rum and various wines.
The Revenue Commissioners have expressed deep concern about the restaurant’s financial management, stating that “it is indeed very clear to Revenue that the directors of the company caused it to trade on an insolvent basis for an extended period of time.”
The agency has repeatedly seized money from the restaurant’s bank account and directly from its premises. in December 2024 alone, €20,682 was collected by the Revenue Sheriff.
Despite the restaurant’s reported losses of €62,000 over the past two years, the Revenue Commissioners are baffled by the meaningful tax debt. They are demanding answers regarding the whereabouts of the missing tax revenue, questioning where the funds collected in 2023 and 2024 were spent.The Green Hen is controlled by well-known publican Frank Gleeson and Ciara Fox. The Revenue Commissioners are calling for a thorough investigation into the restaurant’s trading history.
as the liquidation process moves forward, the future of The Green Hen remains uncertain. The case highlights the importance of financial transparency and responsible business practices.
“A Recipe for Disaster”: Expert Weighs in on Teh Green Hen Liquidation
NewsDirectory3.com: The recent case of The Green Hen, a popular Dublin eatery facing liquidation over unpaid taxes, has sent shockwaves through the city’s restaurant scene. We sat down with financial expert Dr. Aoife O’Connor to dissect the situation and understand what this means for both businesses and consumers.
NewsDirectory3.com: Dr.O’Connor, what are your initial thoughts on The Green Hen’s situation?
Dr. O’Connor: This is a deeply concerning case. The fact that a seemingly successful restaurant, with a reported turnover of millions, could accumulate such a ample tax debt is alarming. It raises serious questions about the restaurant’s financial management practices and the potential for deliberate evasion.
NewsDirectory3.com: The Revenue Commissioners have mentioned concerns about the restaurant trading while insolvent. can you explain what this means?
Dr. O’Connor: Trading while insolvent means a company continues to operate despite knowing it cannot meet its financial obligations. This is a risky practice that can have severe consequences for the company, its creditors, and even employees. In this case, it appears The green Hen continued to function, even purchasing alcohol, despite an expired liquor license and a mounting tax debt. This suggests a serious lapse in judgment and potentially illegal activity.
NewsDirectory3.com: Is there anything that could have been done to prevent this situation?
Dr. O’Connor: Obvious financial practices are crucial for any business, especially in a sector like hospitality that operates on tight margins. Regular financial reporting, external audits, and robust internal controls would have been vital in identifying and addressing any financial issues early on. It’s also critically important for businesses to stay compliant with tax regulations and licensing requirements. Open dialogue with relevant authorities can frequently enough prevent a situation from escalating to this point.
NewsDirectory3.com: what message does this case send to both companies and consumers?
Dr. O’Connor: This case serves as a stark reminder that ignoring financial responsibilities can have devastating consequences. For businesses, it emphasizes the importance of ethical and responsible financial management.For consumers, it highlights the need to support businesses that operate with transparency and integrity. Ultimately, this situation raises crucial questions about corporate accountability and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such cases from happening again.