Former FF TD avoids jail in tax declaration case

A JUDGE said yesterday he would not jail a former Fianna Fáil TD for tax fraud because he had already suffered humiliation, disgrace and the loss of his political career.

Michael Collins was fined €25,000 and given a 12-month suspended jail sentence at Limerick Circuit Court.

Collins, aged 66, of Redhouse Hill, Patrickswell, pleaded not guilty to a charge that on a date unknown between May 2 and June 12, 2002, he obtained a tax clearance cert by making a false declaration to the Revenue.