Ireland Martin Foley ordered to pay nearly €1m in unpaid tax or lose home
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) assessed Martin 'The Viper' Foley, a 74-year-old pensioner, as owing €916,960.12 in unpaid income tax and interest from 1993 to 2000, a sum since increased by interest and penalties. CAB sought to sell the family home at Cashel Avenue in Kimmage, Dublin, and a Sheriff's attempt to seize goods raised only €2,503. Following a hearing on 4 March 2025 before Judge Fiona O'Sullivan, the judge on 10 March 2025 ordered Foley to pay almost €1 million in outstanding tax or lose the home, giving him 18 months to pay. The judge also rejected his wife Sonya's claim to half the house and refused to let the family stay for another eight years; no payments have yet been made towards the debt.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The Criminal Assets Bureau assessed Martin Foley as owing €916,960.12 in unpaid income tax from 1993 to 2000, a sum since increased by interest and penalties.
- Where
- The house is at Cashel Avenue in Kimmage, Dublin, which Foley shares with his wife Sonya and their daughter.
- Cause
- CAB sought possession of the family home to recover part of the long-standing tax debt.
- Investigation
- When the Sheriff attended the property to seize goods and chattels, only €2,503 was raised.
- In court
- The hearing took place on 4 March 2025 before Judge Fiona O'Sullivan, with CAB seeking a well-charging order against the property to facilitate its sale.
- Sources differ on the court: one places the hearing in the Circuit Civil Court, while another refers to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- On 10 March 2025 the judge ordered Foley to pay CAB almost €1 million in outstanding tax or lose his home, and gave him 18 months to pay before CAB can seize it.
- The judge put an 18-month stay on the well-charging order and refused an application to let the family remain in the house for another eight years.
- The judge rejected Sonya Foley's claim that she owns at least half the house and rejected Foley's claim of a verbal agreement not to pursue the tax debt.
- Other details
- Foley said he inherited the house from his mother and that it is not the proceeds of crime, and his counsel described pursuing the debt now as unfair and disproportionate.
- Foley offered CAB weekly payments towards the debt, but no payments have been made towards the outstanding bill.
- Sources differ on his record: one says Foley has more than 60 previous convictions, while another says more than 40, including for assault, robbery and weapons possession.
- When
- The case has been going on for more than ten years.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCAB assessed Foley as owing €916,960.12 in unpaid taxes from 1993 to 2000, a sum since increased by interest and penalties. (rte.ie)
- whereThe Criminal Assets Bureau sought to sell the couple's home in Cashel Avenue, Kimmage, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe house is at Cashel Avenue in Kimmage, Dublin. (rte.ie)
- causeFoley is fighting CAB's demands for possession of his home to meet part of a long-standing tax debt. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationWhen the Sheriff attended the property to seize goods and chattels, only €2,503 was raised. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe hearing took place in the Circuit Civil Court before Judge Fiona O'Sullivan. (thejournal.ie)
- courtCAB was seeking a well-charging order against the property to facilitate its sale. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge O'Sullivan said she would deliver judgment the following week. (thejournal.ie)
- courtFoley was ordered to pay the Criminal Assets Bureau almost €1 million in outstanding tax or lose his home. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge gave Foley 18 months to pay or CAB can seize the home. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge refused an application to let the family stay in the house for another eight years. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court rejected the claim by Foley's wife Sonya that she owns at least half the house. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge put a 18-month stay on the well-charging order. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge rejected Foley's claim of a verbal agreement not to pursue the tax debt. (rte.ie)
- otherCAB had obtained a High Court judgment of €916,960 made up of unpaid income tax and interest. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley's wife claimed a half-share interest in the family home. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley offered CAB weekly payments towards the outstanding debt. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley's counsel argued that he had been led to believe the tax debt would not be pursued. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley's counsel described pursuing the debt now as unfair and disproportionate. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley is described as a 74-year-old pensioner. (thejournal.ie)
- otherFoley has more than 60 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherNo payments have been made towards the outstanding bill. (rte.ie)
- otherFoley said he inherited the house from his mother and that it is not the proceeds of crime. (rte.ie)
- otherThe case has been going on for more than ten years. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Mar2025Martin 'The Viper' Foley ordered to pay nearly €1m in tax
Reports the Circuit Court judgment in CAB proceedings: the tax order, the 18-month stay, the refused family-occupancy request and the rejected claims by Foley and his wife. No existing case in the list covers this March 2025 judgment directly.
suspect, Martin Foley, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Foley - 4 Mar2025Martin 'The Viper' Foley and wife fight to save Kimmage home
Report of the 4 March 2025 Circuit Civil Court hearing before the judgment ordering the sale of the Kimmage home, which case 14280 records as made on 10 March 2025. Adds the arguments made by Foley's counsel and wife and the CAB's response.
suspect, Martin 'The Viper' Foley, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin 'The Viper' Foley