The Court of Criminal Appeal in Dublin has reserved judgment to a later date in an appeal by Paul Begley, who was jailed for six years earlier this year for avoiding payment of €1.6 million in garlic import duty.

Begley was managing director of importer and wholesaler Begley Brothers Ltd, and was jailed in March after he admitted avoiding paying the duty on more than 1,000 tonnes of Chinese garlic.

Three judges presided over the appeal court which sat earlier this month and were told Begley’s was the longest-ever sentence for a revenue matter.