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No jail for ex-minister Lowry
 FORMER
Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry will avoid a jail sentence despite engaging
in tax evasion.
The Independent TD said this weekend he had received notification from
the DPP that he would not face charges.
In addition Mr Lowry said he had reached a financial agreement with the
Revenue Commissioners and repaid approximately ?1.5million in outstanding
tax and penalties.
Mr Lowry told TV3’s The Political Party: “The paperwork on
that is being presently concluded but I have paid what monies were outstanding.”
The move follows the findings of the McCracken Tribunal which found
that Dunnes Stores had paid approximately £395,000 for refurbishment
work on Mr Lowry’s house.
It said it was a method of payment which “must have been made with
a view to assisting him to evade tax”.
It lead to speculation the former minister could face a custodial sentence.
But that possibility has now been removed.
In relation to the possibility of a prison sentence a relieved Mr Lowry
said: “The media have been regularly commenting on the fact that
I would go to jail and those in competition with me in my constituency
have been telling people not to vote for me because I may not conclude
my term in the Dáil.
“But for me probably the biggest relief that I have had over the
past 10 years was the formal decision from the DPP’s office that
no charges could be sustained against me.”
Mr Lowry added: “Those dark days are over and I can tell you they
were very stressful, very difficult and consumed a lot of my time and
my energy.
“I am pleased and relieved that I now have concluded matters with
the Revenue.”
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