Settlement agreements with Revenue upheld and claims of duress and misrepresentation dismissed

High Court dismisses a case seeking to rescind two settlement agreements from 1995, finding the claims to be statute-barred and without reasonable cause of action. The plaintiffs had sought to overturn the settlements, alleging duress and misrepresentation by the Revenue during a tax audit, and claiming a lack of full disclosure of their tax liabilities. The court ruled that the plaintiffs were aware, or should have been aware, of the facts necessary to commence proceedings at the time of the settlements or shortly thereafter. The court also found that a fair trial was now impossible due to the passage of time and the death of key witnesses. The plaintiffs' claims of a "Payment Condition" and constitutional challenges to tax legislation were also dismissed.