Former tyre sales manager denies fraud charges

The former national sales manager of a leading tyre supplier has gone on trial accused of conspiring to defraud the State over a contract to supply tyres to An Garda Siochana.

Ben Meehan, of Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin, a former national sales manager with Advance Tyres is accused of conspiring with his colleague Michael Queenan and Sgt Ronan Dunne to falsify figures so the company would retain a contract to supply and fit tyres for Garda cars.

Tenders to supply tyres to the Department of Justice and other state bodies were invited in 1993. A panel of suppliers including Advance Tyres was approved.
The court heard that Sgt Dunne wrote to the companies in 1998 requesting price lists in order to carry out prices comparisons.

It is alleged that the price list from Advance Tyres was inaccurate and some prices were altered downwards.

Meehan has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial continues.