Independent TD for Tipperary North, Michael Lowry, is to be tried in the Circuit Court for four alleged tax offences.

The offences can lead to fines of up to €127,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment.

Three new charges relating to knowingly or wilfully filing incorrect returns were brought before Mr Lowry in Thurles District Court today following an earlier charge having been brought in December.

Three of the charges related to knowingly or wilfully filing incorrect returns in 2003 for the 2002 tax year, while the final charge is that Mr Lowry knowingly or wilfully filed an incorrect return in August 2007 for the 2006 tax year.

The four charges were mentioned today before Judge Elizabeth McGrath who was told by Gerard O’Brien of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office that books of evidence would be ready by February 25th next.

The judge said she presumed from what was being said that the matter was to be tried on indictment and this was confirmed by Mr O’Brien.

She adjourned the matter back to February 2nd.

Michael Collins solicitor for Mr Lowry said his client consented. Mr Lowry was not in court and has not as yet entered a plea to the charges.

A former minister for transport, energy and communications in John Bruton’s Government, Mr Lowry became an Independent after resigning from government in 1996.