Murphy to launch fresh appeal to prevent trial

Prominent republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy is to launch a fresh legal challenge to prevent his trial at the Special Criminal Court for alleged revenue offences.

Mr Murphy (aged 58), 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 last year from Dundalk District Court and he challenged the return at the High Court last November. The High Court found that Murpjy’s rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.

But today, the court heard that Murphy’s legal team is to launch another legal challenge to the trial in the High Court.

The court remanded Murphy on continuing bail until the end of May pending the outcome of the High Court proceedings. Murphy was in court for the brief hearing.

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.

Last October 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 (€494,500) were recovered by the UK authorities.