Fact, fiction, myth - stories of ‘Slab’ Murphy abound

THOMAS “Slab” Murphy insists he is an honest farmer trying to make a living on the Border.

The security and intelligence services on both sides of that border allege he has built up a multi-million euro fortune through a massive criminal empire and was a long time IRA chief of staff. He has never been convicted of anything.

Weapons, fuel, drink, cigarettes, cattle - he is alleged to have smuggled them all. His farm straddles the south Armagh/Co Louth border, making it a prime location for anyone wanting to smuggle goods.

The farm at Hackballscross and the lands around it have been under surveillance by the security forces for decades. But Murphy lives alone in jealously-guarded privacy.

It is from there he is alleged to have masterminded his criminal empire, and that as well as his own alleged rackets, he demands a cut from other smuggler using roads near his farm.

Fact, fiction, myth - the stories abound. Underground pipelines linked to tanks on each side of the Border are said to have been laid to smuggle oil and petrol across the Border.

But Murphy rules the area around his lands like a fiefdom and those who ventured too close down the years showing unwanted interest - soldiers, police and journalists included - have all been sent packing.

Described as “sharp and very intelligent” by those who have sought to pin offences on him, he is said to deal only in cash and to ensure there is no paper trail which could help authorities trying to get him.

Last October he was forced to deny through solicitors he had any connection to property in Manchester valued at £30 million (€43.7m), alleged to be the assets of the IRA and under his control.

The Assets Recovery Agency raided a property company in the city as part of an investigation into 250 properties they believed the IRA had bought with the proceeds of crime. The investigation continues.

In the statement through his solicitor Murphy admitted being a life-long republican who was now wedded to the peace process. He accused those opposed to the process of trying to vilify him in a bid to wreck it.

Few pictures of Murphy have ever surfaced.

He only really came to public notice in 1998 when he lost an 11-year libel action in the Irish courts against The Sunday Times after taking exception to their describing him as a leading IRA member.

Despite his alleged wealth, the paper is still waiting for him to pay them £600,000 (€874,000) in outstanding legal fees.