Michael Lowry’s tax trial date set for March 2017

Independent TD and former government minister Michael Lowry is to stand trial on tax offences in March of next year.

Mr Lowry (60), of Glenreigh, Holycross, Co Tipperary is facing charges that he allegedly filed incorrect tax returns in 2003 and 2007. He was in court for the brief hearing Wednesday morning.

The prosecution and defence both agreed that the trial could go ahead on March 20th, 2017.

Mr Lowry recently lost an application in the High Court to have the case thrown out.

The former Fine Gael minister appeared initially before Thurles District Court in 2014, charged with three counts of knowingly filing incorrect tax returns on October 31st, 2003, and one count of knowingly filing an incorrect tax return on August 3rd, 2007.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath formally sent him forward to Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court but the case was later transferred from Co Tipperary to Dublin on the application of the DPP.