A prominent GAA coach has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for £1.3 million VAT fraud.

Gerald Moane, of Eschnillogue, Teigeshill Road, Fivemiletown was sentenced this morning at Dungannon Crown Court after pleading guilty to making false VAT returns over a period of six years and to acquiring criminal property.

He will spend 16 months in prison and 20 months on licence.

In court today Mr. Moane's defence team said he had come under pressure from loyalist paramilitaries to pay protection money, prompting him to make the false VAT returns.

It was their submission to the court that Mr. Moane had tried to stop this illegal activity, but was seriously assaulted as a result.

The Crown Court Judge said she could not take this into consideration since it had not formed part of his defence case.

In sentencing Moane, she said: “It is a shame that a man of your character is before this court, but I can't ignore the long period of criminal behaviour.” She said she had taken into consideration the character references supplied which included references from Father Brian D'Arcy and Moane's wife and children.

The Judge commented: “I have to temper mercy with justice and justice with mercy. It pains me to sentence someone like you who has made such a contribution to the community but I would be abdicating my responsibility to the system of justice if I was to allow the personal mitigating factors to influence me unduly.” A letter from Moane's wife referred to him as “my everything; who has always been there for me.” Mrs. Moane said her husband had never touched an alcoholic drink or smoked and that “he was a fantastic father who never shirked his responsibility; he was one-in-a-million.” His daughter, writing on behalf of the six children (four of whom are under 18), wrote that Moane “is a role model,” who “never missed a celebration for the children” and who “was always only a phone call away.” Moane is Manager of Brookeborough Senior Gaelic football team and is a former Fermanagh Minor Manager and selector under Charlie Mulgrew with the Fermanagh Senior Team.

As Moane was taken into custody his wife was consoled by members of the family.