Begley profits rise as boss languishes in jail

A fruit and vegetable distributor last year recorded pre-tax profits of almost €4,000 per week while the company’s boss languished in jail.

In March 2011, Paul Begley of Begley Brothers Ltd was jailed for six years for his role in a €1.6m garlic import duty scam.

Mr Begley was jailed after admitting labelling more than 1,000 tonnes of garlic as apples, which have a lower import tax rate.