The Conduct Committee found that Mr J G Fitzgerald, a member of the Institute in practice at Fitzgerald & Company, Carrickaneane, Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co Louth did act in breach of the Institute's Code of Ethics for Members (2006-2014): Fundamental Principles: (a): Integrity; (b): Objectivity; (c): Professional Competence and Due care and (e): Professional Behaviour in that he signed:
- in his firm's name, audit reports on abridged accounts in respect of one company for three years (2005-2007 inclusive) when he was not a registered auditor;
- in the name of another auditor, 26 audit reports on abridged accounts in respect of 10 companies, over the years 2008-2016 inclusive; and
- presented those allegedly audited accounts to the Companies Registration Office when he knew or ought to have known that those accounts were unaudited;
and is accordingly liable to disciplinary action under the Institute's Disciplinary Bye-Laws.
The Conduct Committee determined that in relation to the Formal Allegation a sanction of exclusion was appropriate.
Reference: Karen Jones, Gibney Communications
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