Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy has been jailed for 18 months for failing to file tax returns for his farming activities between 1996 and 2004

In December, the 66-year-old, who lives at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co. Louth, was found guilty of nine counts of tax evasion.

An investigation was launched after his farm was raided in 2006 and the court heard he has built up a tax liability of just under €190,000.

Mr. Justice Paul Butler said the three-judge panel took his age and otherwise clean criminal record into account but felt he had to serve a custodial sentence.