Murphy lodges appeal against Supreme Court ruling

Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy has lodged a Supreme Court challenge to a ruling that tax charges against him should be dealt with by the non-jury Special Criminal Court rather than the ordinary courts.

Thomas Murphy (aged 62) 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.

Mr Murphy, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, had challenged the constitutionality of a law under which the tax charges against him are to be dealt with by the Special Criminal Court (SCC) as opposed to the ordinary courts.

Mr Murphy lost that challenge last month after the High Court found he could be tried at the Special Criminal Court.

Today, Murphy's counsel Mr Tony Mc Gillicuddy BL told the court that notice of appeal against the High Court decision had been served on the Supreme Court.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Cormac Dunne, said the court would remand Murphy on continuing bail until March 30th next year when the case will be mentioned again.