Only three tax evaders served jail time in last eight years

JUST 25 tax evaders were brought before the courts in the last eight years and just three of those found guilty served time in prison, figures released by Finance Minister Brian Cowen have shown.

Between 1997 and 2004, the Revenue Commissioners initiated court prosecutions in 26 cases. Custodial sentences were imposed in 10 of the cases, but seven of these sentences were suspended meaning the guilty party served no time in prison.

The prosecutions resulted in total fines of just €117,676 being levied.