Lowry trial preparations can go ahead, rules High Court

Preparations for the trial of Independent TD Michael Lowry on tax charges should not be suspended because of his impending legal bid to stop the tax case going ahead, the President of the High Court said yesterday.

Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said while a stay on the trial going ahead remained in place pending determination of Mr Lowry’s High Court judicial review bid to stop it altogether, this should not prevent the DPP from serving additional statements or making similar preparations for the trial.

Last month, the former communications minister and sitting Tipperary North TD was granted permission by the High Court to bring a challenge aimed at halting his trial before Dublin Circuit Court on four charges of allegedly filing incorrect tax returns in 2003 and 2007. He denies all charges.