INDEPENDENT TD FOR Tipperary North Michael Lowry has been unable to prevent a trial relating to Revenue offences from going ahead in the Circuit Court.

The politician will now face three charges of filing false tax returns in Dublin’s Circuit Court.

Applications had been made by Mr Lowry’s legal team to have charges that he allegedly filed incorrect tax returns in 2003 and 2007 dismissed and for the trial to be stayed.

In a statement today, Lowry’s said that he would, “continue to vigorously defend this exceptionally selective and unfair prosecution”.

Clonmel Circuit Court, which was presided over by Judge Thomas Teehan, ruled that the submission by Lowry’s solicitors that he had been exposed to unfair scrutiny was not grounds for stopping the trial.

Lowry’s solicitors attempted to have charges against him struck out on a number of other grounds, which were dismissed by Judge Teehan.

The date he is set to appear before the Criminal Court in Dublin is yet to be decided. The State submitted a request to have the trial moved from Tipperary to Dublin in July – claiming that Lowry’s voter base in his home county could bring about biased juries. 

The case has been adjourned until 20 January.

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Also: Michael Lowry charged with three counts of filing false tax returns