Ryanair embroiled in Italian investigation over taxes

Low cost airline Ryanair today refused to comment on reports that two of its chiefs are under investigation in Italy over the company’s tax affairs.

A prosecutor in the northern city of Bergamo is said to have opened an inquiry into claims that chief executive Michael O’Leary put 220 staff at Orio al Serio Airport on the books in Dublin so he could pay Irish tax rates, much lower than those in Italy.