The High Court has heard that "infamy or notoriety is not a basis for criminal immunity" and should not prevent the prosecution of Michael Lowry.

The Independent TD is trying to stop his pending trial for alleged tax offences from going ahead.

Michael Lowry is facing a number of charges in relation to a payment of €372,000 that was owed to a company of his in 2002, and paid into an Isle of Man trust account – a move with tax implications, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He claims he has no case to answer and is trying to put an end to his pending trial.

The Tipperary North TD also claims he has been denied the right to a fair trial because of what he believes to be an "unparalleled" media campaign against him, and "unprecedented" State scrutiny for 20 years.

Today, Remy Farrell, Senior Counsel for the DPP, described this proposition as "extraordinary" and asked if infamous or notorious people should be entitled to criminal immunity.

He went on to defend the decision to have his trial heard in Dublin and insisted there was nothing to suggest the DPP did not trust Tipperary juries – she does so every day of the week, he said.