Irish scaffolding company's €2.4m Revenue debt case in High Court
A scaffolding company, Instant Upright Ltd, was wound up in January following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners, owing almost €2.4 million to Revenue along with other debts. In the High Court in Dublin, the company's liquidator alleged the business had been diverted to a Gibraltar-registered entity of the same name to place assets beyond creditors' reach. Judge Brian Cregan granted an interim freezing order and permission to serve proceedings on five named defendants outside the jurisdiction, including Robert Stowe, Andrew James Haynes, Joseph Oxley, Serge Marino and Graham Donald Croot. The case is set to return to court the following week.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Instant Upright Ltd, a scaffolding company, was wound up with debts of almost €2.4 million owed to Revenue.
- The liquidator alleged the company diverted its business to a Gibraltar-registered entity also named Instant Upright Ltd to place assets beyond creditors' reach.
- Robert Stowe, a 50 per cent beneficial owner of the Gibraltar entity, has an address in Monaco, and Andrew James Haynes, a 50 per cent shareholder, is based in Cadiz, Spain.
- Joseph Oxley of Dubai, Serge Marino of Le Cannet, France, and Graham Donald Croot of Melbourne, Australia, are named as company directors.
- The company is also indebted to the ESB for €30,831, RFC Security Ltd for €43,405 and Korea South East Power Co Ltd for €2.9 million.
- In court
- The liquidator, Adrian García Díaz, was appointed by court order in January following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners.
- In the High Court in Dublin, Judge Brian Cregan granted an interim freezing order over the company's assets.
- Permission was granted to serve proceedings on the defendants outside the jurisdiction.
- The case is set to return to court the following week.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe company is an Irish scaffolding company named Instant Upright Ltd (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe company was wound up with debts of almost €2.4 million owed to Revenue (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe company allegedly diverted business to a Gibraltar-registered entity also named Instant Upright Ltd (irishtimes.com)
- whatRobert Stowe, with an address in Monaco, is 50 per cent beneficial owner of Instant Upright Gibraltar (irishtimes.com)
- whatAndrew James Haynes of Cadiz, Spain, is a 50 per cent shareholder (irishtimes.com)
- whatJoseph Oxley of Dubai is a company director (irishtimes.com)
- whatSerge Marino of Le Cannet, France, is a company director (irishtimes.com)
- whatGraham Donald Croot of Melbourne, Australia, is a company director (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe company is also indebted to the ESB in the sum of €30,831 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe company is indebted to RFC Security Ltd for €43,405 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe company is indebted to Korea South East Power Co Ltd for €2.9 million (irishtimes.com)
- courtPermission was granted to serve proceedings on defendants outside the jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe liquidator was appointed by court order in January following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will return next week (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Oct2026Irish firm with €2.4m debt to Revenue allegedly diverted business to Gibraltar entity, court told
Reports on High Court proceedings where the liquidator of a wound-up Irish scaffolding company sought and was granted an interim freezing order over assets allegedly diverted to a Gibraltar entity, with permission to serve proceedings on five named defendants outside the jurisdiction.
accused, Robert Stowe, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Stoweaccused, Andrew James Haynes, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew James Haynesaccused, Joseph Oxley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Oxleyaccused, Serge Marino, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Serge Marinoaccused, Graham Donald Croot, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Donald Croot