A Northern Ireland businessman who cheated the Inland Revenue out of more than £1 million (€1.44 million) was jailed yesterday for three years.

Fast-food restaurant chain boss James McCorry (56) siphoned profits into offshore bank accounts in a tax evasion scam spanning two decades, Belfast Crown Court heard.

McCorry, who founded the hugely successful Julie's Kitchen and Burger Stop outlets, is one of the biggest fraudsters successfully prosecuted by the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland.

As he imposed confiscation and compensation orders to cover unpaid duties and interest, Mr Justice Morgan told him he had refused to come clean even after suspicion grew.

The judge said: "Your offending behaviour continued despite the fact there were investigations into your conduct in 1990 and 1993, and therefore opportunities to disclose the true position and rid yourself of criminal behaviour."

Inland Revenue representatives warned outside the court that other tax evaders could face the same punishment.

Spokesman Mr Kieran Dougan said: "This sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can cheat the Inland Revenue and the public purse that we can and will prosecute where appropriate. Similar cases may follow."

McCorry started to build his empire in 1974 with a takeaway in Lisburn, County Antrim.

As profits soared, further branches were opened until the chain had expanded to a dozen across Northern Ireland.

Although he sold off four to his daughter Julie, after whom the business was named, he continued to run the rest. It was when the entrepreneur transferred £28,000 to a new Ulster Bank account on the Isle of Man in 1979 that the deception began.

"It seems he decided as of November 21st, 1979, to use this as the basis for concealing the true nature and extent of his business activities and profits," Mr John Creaney QC, prosecuting, told the court.