'Slab' was 'lawfully returned to trial' at Special Court

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that prominent republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy was lawfully returned for trial on charges connected with alleged revenue offences.

The court made the ruling after Mr Murphy's counsel, Mr Michael O' Higgins SC, challenged the validity of the document returning Mr Murphy for trial at the non-jury court from Dundalk District Court.

Mr O' Higgins submitted that the return for trial had been amended without proper notice to Murphy's solicitor.

The Special Criminal Court normally deals with terrorist related offences but the Director of Public Prosecutions has the discretion in any case to certify that the ordinary courts are inadequate to deal with it and to send it for trial to the three-judge, non-jury court.

Mr Murphy (aged 58), from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the sources of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the tax years from 1996/97 to 2004.