The fraud triggered Northern Ireland’s biggest ever tax probe and was proved after secretly recording conversations in a bugged accountant’s office.

The decade-long investigation into the £5m tax fraud involved widespread evasion of VAT and income tax related to construction work. Following a trial at Belfast Crown Court, accountant Francis Devlin and Paul McStravick, were jailed for four years each.

HMRC mounted its biggest ever operation in Northern Ireland to bring the 27-strong gang to justice.