Pre-tax profits at a Dublin gambling establishment founded by Rosanna Davison's late father-in-law rose 5.5 per cent last year to €8.22m.
Fresh accounts from Dublin Pool and Juke Box Company Ltd show the company recorded a rise in profits despite a slight fall in revenue from €12.96 million to €12.72 million in the 12 months to the end of June last year.
The company's founder, Richard Quirke, died on 5 October 2024. The directors said Mr Quirke's contribution to the business had been “invaluable”.
The former police officer founded Dr Quirkey's Good Time Emporium on Dublin's O'Connell Street in 1976 and the renamed business Carlton Entertainment is now run by Mr Quirkey's daughter, Debbie Lawrence. Its main venue is the Carlton Casino, formerly known as Dr Quirkey's Good Time Emporium.
The directors said the company's core business was “providing a variety of entertainment services” at a number of venues in Dublin.
Profit before tax for the previous year includes a non-cash gain of EUR 3.99 million resulting from the reversal of asset impairments that occurred before 2023.
Profit for 2024 also increased due to the revaluation of wholly owned real estate in the amount of €979,992.
The profits for 2024 and 2023 followed combined losses of €17.79 million over the previous four years, coinciding with the impact of COVID-19, which saw business suspended from March 2020 to August 2021.
The losses also coincided with a €2.56 million suspected fraud that was uncovered by Mr Quirke and another director in December 2020.
In response to the alleged fraud, the company brought in external experts, and previous reports showed that “this led to the identification of unpaid tax and interest liabilities.”
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The total amount of interest paid over the past few years on overdue tax liabilities of casinos and gambling halls now amounts to 2.74 million euros.
This follows a payment of €149,350 in interest on overdue tax last year, which followed a total payment in the 2023 financial year of €427,972, which included €136,221 in interest and a €291,751 fine for unpaid tax.
As a result of an extensive investigation conducted by external financial advisers, the company has implemented a significant management and operational improvement programme at all levels of its structure.
Mr Quirke, who has since died, amassed a considerable fortune from his gambling business, with the total amount
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
