The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment in the case of a car dealer who is appealing against his four-year sentence for failing to pay more than €220,000 in VAT on second-hand vehicles.
Last March, John Hughes, previously with an address in Cula Road, Bray, Co Wicklow, but now living in Nice, France, was jailed for four years by Judge Martin Nolan after he pleaded guilty to sample counts of failing to pay VAT on dates between July 2003 and February 2006.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the 55-year-old, who has no previous convictions, has since repaid the outstanding amount of €226,718 due on 119 vehicles valued at €1.27 million.
Judgment will be returned at a later date.