Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy was further remanded on continuing bail when he appeared briefly at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for alleged revenue offences.
Mr Murphy (59), from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The nine charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004.
He was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court in 2008 from Dundalk District Court, and he challenged the return at the High Court in November,2008. The High Court found that Mr Murphy’s rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.
Mr Murphy has launched a new High Court bid to prevent his trial and his counsel Ms Roslyn Langan BL today told the court that pleadings have been lodged in relation to that challenge.
Prosecution solicitor Mr Michael O’ Donovan said that the DPP is anxious that the trial should go ahead as soon as possible.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three judge non jury court, said that the court would revisit its decision not to fix a date for trial until the High Court challenge was dealt with when Mr Murphy’s case is mentioned again on April 27th.
The judge said that the court wanted to ensure that the trial would go ahead quickly and he said that both sides in the High Court proceedings would have to go faster.
The Special Criminal Court normally deals with terrorist-related offences. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions has the discretion in any case to certify that ordinary courts are inadequate to deal with it and to send it for trial to the three-judge non-jury court.
In 2008, Mr Murphy, his brothers Frank and Patrick, and the Ace Oils fuel company agreed to give up cash, cheques and properties to Irish and British revenue officers. More than €625,000 in cash and cheques were confiscated in Ireland, while nine properties in north west England worth £445,000 were recovered by the UK authorities.