Thomas 'Slab' Murphy convicted of tax evasion
Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy has been found guilty of tax evasion.
The 66-year-old, from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, a farm that straddles the Border, denied nine charges of failing to comply with tax laws.
Following a 32-day trial at the three-judge Special Criminal Court in Dublin, Murphy was convicted on all nine charges.
The prosecution alleged the farmer did not furnish authorities with a return of income, profits or gains or the sources of them over eight years from 1996 to 2004.
The 66-year-old tried to convince the court that his brother Patrick ran the farm, and claimed signatures on certain documents were not his.
Judge Paul Butler, presiding in the non-jury court, remanded Murphy on continuing bail ahead of sentencing.
“The court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that in the case of each of the individual accounts on the indictment the accused is guilty,” he told the court.
The sentencing issue will be mentioned in court on February 12. Thomas Murphy will remain on bail pending the outcome of that sentence hearing.
