A Dublin businessman is appealing his 6-year jail sentence over a €1.6 million tax scam on imported garlic.

Paul Begley of Begley Brothers Limited and living in Redgap, Rathcoole in Co. Wicklow had more than 1,000 tonnes of garlic labelled as 'apples' to avoid paying higher duty.

Last March Mr. Begley - the head of Ireland's largest fruit and vegetable producers Begley Brothers Ltd - was jailed for 6 years despite the pleas of his lawyers.

The-46-year old admitted to the import scam which was discovered in 2007 when customs officers at Dublin Port found garlic in a container that was supposed to contain apples.

First offence

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the import duty on garlic is 'inexplicably' high and can be up to 232%. 

In contrast onions have an import duty of 9%.

The challenge by the businessman to the severity of his sentence is to be heard today.

His case has been given priority at the Court of Criminal Appeal by Mr. Justice Adrian Hardiman who noted that the maximum sentence had been applied following a guilty plea on a first offence.