Former Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins is to go on trial on September 25th for allegedly making a false tax declaration.
The 66-year-old from Red House, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip in 2003 after he was named on a list of tax defaulters.
Yesterday at Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Carroll Moran was told that a jury would be required for Mr Collins's trial. The former Limerick TD was present in court yesterday, where he was accompanied by his wife, Una.
Counsel for the State John O'Sullivan said 14 witnesses would be called for the trial.
Mr Collins is charged under the Standards in Public Office Act with obtaining a tax clearance certificate by falsely pretending to be tax compliant between May 2nd and May 31st, 2002.
The former Limerick West TD was not required to speak in court yesterday, where a senior counsel represented him. Mr Collins arrived at court yesterday morning well ahead of proceedings and left by a side door after his trial date was set.
Mr Collins was first elected to the Dáil as a Fianna Fáil candidate in 1997 and represented Limerick West until 2007. In 2005, he announced he would not be seeking re-election, which paved the way for his nephew Niall Collins, who took over his seat following the recent general election where he was elected in West Limerick on the first count.
Michael Collins comes from a family with a long tradition in politics, which was begun by his father James Collins and carried on by his brother Gerry, who was a minister and an MEP.