High Court to decide on 'Slab' Murphy tax trial bid
THE High Court will rule today on a bid by prominent republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy to halt his trial on tax charges before the non-jury Special Criminal Court (SCC).
Mr Murphy (58), Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is being prosecuted on nine charges alleging he failed to furnish tax returns for the years from 1996/97 to 2004.
Mr Murphy was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court by Dundalk District Court last January and is on bail pending trial. The prosecution is on hold pending the outcome of High Court judicial review proceedings by Mr Murphy alleging breaches of his rights.
The proceedings, which were heard yesterday by Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, are in relation to how the return for trial order was amended by the DPP who said the amendment was made because of a clerical error.
Mr Murphy complains that his lawyers had just four minutes notice of the State's intention to apply, on Monday January 14, last to amend the previous District Court order, made on January 10, returning him for trial to the SCC.
Counsel for Mr Murphy, said his client's solicitor, Paul Tiernan, was contacted at 8.56am on January 14, by a State lawyer to inform him of the intended application before the District Court. Mr Tiernan was unaware until around that same time that faxes had been sent by the DPP's office to his offices after 5pm the previous Friday.
Counsel for the DPP said the reason Mr Tiernan's office was faxed about the Monday sitting after 5pm on Friday was because the return for trial document had only become available hours earlier.
Mr Justice O'Neill said he would give his decision today.
- Tim Healy
