Reports have emerged this evening that a file in relation to the financial affairs of Independent Dáil deputy Michael Lowry has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions by the Revenue Commissioners.
The DPP has refused to comment on the issue but Mr Lowry today indicated that he believed the reports and claimed that if true the Revenue Commissioners were in breach of their own code of practice.
The former Fine Gael politician resigned as Minister for Transport in 1996 after details of payments from businessman Ben Dunne emerged and were investigated by the McCracken Tribunal.
However, the Tipperary North TD could now face criminal charges under the 1993 tax amnesty legislation.
In evidence given in the Moriarty Tribunal, it transpired differing accounts were given by Mr Lowry and the Revenue Commissioners as to the amount of income the former minister declared.
Liam Liston, the inspector of taxes in the Revenue's investigation branch, told the tribunal in March 2001 the Revenue had received a letter from Mr Lowry's solicitors the previous December. This stated there might be "certain errors or omissions" in relation to returns submitted by the former minister and his company, Garuda Ltd.
The taxes concerned were income tax, capital gains tax, residential property tax and capital acquisitions tax, in relation to Mr Lowry, and corporation tax, PAYE and VAT for Garuda.
While the letter held the submission detailed undeclared income of about £500,000, the Revenue said the figure was actually £618,000.
As a result, and after intensive investigation, Mr Lowry may face a possible jail term, and or a fine, if found guilty of falsely declaring his income.