Case against prominent republican Murphy delayed for two months
The case against prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy, who is being prosecuted on tax charges, has been put back for a further two months.
Mr Murphy (aged 60) 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, is challenging 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.
He is appealing to the Supreme Court after losing a High Court challenge in November last year.
Lawyers for Mr Murphy this morning told the Special Criminal Court that proceedings against him should be further placed on hold until after the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal is known.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flannan Brennan, remanded Mr Murphy on continuing bail and listed the matter for mention again on May 23 next.
