Businessman jailed over garlic scam gets temporary release

A businessman jailed over a multi-million euro import duty scam on garlic has been granted temporary release from prison.

Paul Begley, of Begley Brothers Ltd in Dublin, was initially jailed for six years for labelling more than 1000 tonnes of imported garlic as apples which have a lower rate of duty.

The sentence was reduced to six months on appeal.

The Irish prisons service has confirmed that Mr Begley was released from Mountjoy jail this afternoon on a "community return scheme" which will see him engage in supervised community service.