A team of officers from the Revenue Commissioners have searched the Co Tipperary home of Independent Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry as part of an ongoing investigation into tax matters.
The search was carried out by a team from the Revenue Commissioners’ HQ in Dublin on Tuesday, when it is understood they spent several hours searching through documentation and files at Mr Lowry’s home near Holycross in north Tipperary.
A Revenue Commissioners spokeswoman said they were prohibited under section 851 A of the Taxes Consolidation Act from commenting on individual cases.
It is understood the team had difficulty accessing Mr Lowry’s gated property at Gleanree about 1km from Holycross but they gained entry when a housekeeper opened the gates to allow another staff member on to the property.
Garda
The team was accompanied by a member of An Garda Síochána to ensure there were no difficulties in executing the warrant, but gardaí have no involvement in the investigation, The Irish Times understands.
It is understood that officials from the Revenue also carried out a search of business premises in Dublin again under warrant on Tuesday as part of the same investigation.
Mr Lowry could not be contacted for comment yesterday on the search.
At about lunch hour, however, Mr Lowry ordered two reporters off his property and refused to talk to them after they ventured on to the holding when the high-security gates opened.
Activity
There was little sign of activity yesterday at the substantial property, where a line of leafy beech and sycamore trees shield the house from the roadside.
The electronic gates, set into two limestone pillars, remained shut.
A former Fine Gael minister who resigned from cabinet in 1996 following revelations about his business affairs, Mr Lowry later quit the parliamentary party in 1997 to become an Independent.
He has been re-elected as an Independent at subsequent elections.
