Eugene Hanratty Senior, aged 57, of Castleblaney Road, Crossmaglen, and Eugene Hanratty Junior, aged 34, of Dundalk Road, Armagh, face charges of assault causing harm to a man in Castleblaney, County Monaghan on 24 November 2012. The trial of the father and son was scheduled to commence this week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but could not proceed. Defence counsel cited particular reasons for the adjournment. Judge Sarah Berkeley rescheduled the trial to commence on 25 October, with a pre-trial hearing set for June. Both men were charged following the alleged assault in the Monaghan locality.
In 2015, approximately 350 people were serving life sentences in Irish prisons, with life terms averaging around 18 years. However, a select number of prisoners have served substantially longer. John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans, convicted in 1978 of abducting, raping and murdering two women in 1976 and 1977, received life sentences. Evans died in 2012 after 34 years in custody. Shaw remains imprisoned after nearly 38 years. Jimmy Ennis, now aged 84, is Ireland's longest-serving prisoner, having been incarcerated over five decades for a 1964 murder in County Cork. Noel Callan from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, and Michael McHugh were sentenced to death in 1985 for the killing of Sergeant Patrick Morrissey near Tallanstown, County Louth. Their sentences were commuted to 40 years imprisonment and both were released in 2015 after 30 years. Colm O'Shea and Patrick McCann received death sentences in 1980 for murdering two gardaí during a bank robbery in Ballaghedereen, County Roscommon, later commuted to 40 years. Both were released in 2013 after serving 33 years.
A trial date of January 11, 2018, has been set for Séamus McGrane (60), of Little Road, Domiskin, Co Louth, and Donal O Coisdealbha (23), of Abbeyfield, Killester Dublin 15, who were arrested last year on IRA and explosives charges. Séamus McGrane is alleged to have been a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) between December 23, 2009, and May 13, 2015. He is also alleged to have directed the activities of the IRA during the same period. Donal O Coisdealbha is alleged to have been a member of the IRA on May 13, 2015, and to have possessed a component part of an improvised explosive device, namely a time and power unit (TPU), at a personal storage locker under his control at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co Kildare, on the same date. The case is currently at the trial stage, with no pleas, findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The matter was adjourned to a trial date in January 2018.
Shahzad Hussain, aged 35, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a retrial was ordered by the Court of Criminal Appeal in July 2014. The appeal had quashed his earlier murder conviction for killing his wife's cousin, Muhammad Arif, due to a "very real risk of injustice" in how provocation was explained to the jury. Hussain had previously been sentenced to life for murdering his wife's cousin and to seven years for seriously injuring his wife, Rashida Bibi Haider, and two years for assaulting her. In the current proceedings, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Arif. The court noted that Hussain remains in custody for the other two convictions, which were not overturned, and that he has spent the last five years in four different prisons. The case was prosecuted by Mr Shane Costelloe SC and defended by Mr Dominic McGinn SC.
The family of Shane Rogers, a 32‑year‑old man charged with the murder of GAA player James Hughes, settled a High Court damages action for €50,000. Rogers was found unconscious in a holding cell beneath Cloverhill Courthouse on 20 December 2011, after being transferred from Cloverhill Prison for a scheduled hearing. He was taken to hospital and died shortly thereafter. The family alleged that the Governor of Cloverhill Prison, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General were negligent and breached duty and the European Convention of Human Rights. They claimed the prison failed to search Rogers for a ligature, did not provide adequate psychological assessment or treatment, and failed to monitor him in solitary confinement or holding cells. The judge, Ms Justice Deidre Murphy, approved the settlement and acknowledged a report by Judge Michael Reily that identified failures in record‑keeping, communication and governance within the prison system.
Michael McMahon has been denied a reduction to his nine-year jail sentence following an appeal heard in the Court of Appeal. McMahon, aged 49 and resident in County Louth, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Seán Lavelle and falsely imprisoning Mr and Mrs Lavelle at their Achill Island home on 14 February 2010. He received a twelve-year term with the final three years suspended in January 2012. His appeal against sentence severity was dismissed on grounds that the trial judge had not sufficiently considered his offer of compensation to the victims. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan stated the couple had returned home to find two masked intruders who tied and beat Mr Lavelle and restrained Mrs Lavelle. Both victims reported lasting psychological trauma. McMahon's offered compensation of €20,000 was rejected by the injured parties. The court found no error in sentencing and dismissed the appeal unanimously.
The family of Seamus Ludlow, a 47‑year‑old forester from Co. Louth who was shot dead on 1 May 1976, has filed a High Court action demanding that the State set up a commission of investigation into his murder. Ludlow's body was found near his home in Culfore, Dundalk, and no one has ever been charged. The family says the Gardaí investigation was suspended after three weeks, that the police failed to follow up on information from the RUC about loyalist suspects, and that the Gardaí allegedly spread a smear campaign blaming the IRA. They allege possible involvement of British Army or UK state agents, citing the kidnapping of Ludlow's brother‑in‑law and questioning by a SAS officer. An Oireachtas committee in 2006 recommended a formal inquiry; the family argues the State's refusal to establish a commission breaches their constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin adjourned a case involving two Dundalk men, Conan Murphy, aged 29, and Philip McKevitt, aged 62, charged with possessing explosive substances at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, on 22 May 2010. Murphy's counsel, Kerida Naidoo SC, requested a trial date and the court agreed to postpone the case for four weeks. Paul Greene SC, representing the prosecution, consented. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Alison Lindsay and John Hamill, set the adjournment until 12 February, when a trial date is expected to be fixed.
Owen McCann, a 35‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 18 December 2015 on charges of membership in the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and possession of firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. He was taken into custody by the Special Detective Unit last Friday. On 22 December 2015 the Special Criminal Court in Dublin released him on bail. The court, presided over by Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, accepted the Department of Public Prosecutions' lack of objection to the bail application. Mr McCann agreed to the conditions set by State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan: he must remain in Dundalk, sign daily at the Dundalk Garda Station, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, provide a mobile phone number, surrender his passport and all travel documents, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence.
A 35‑year‑old Louth man, Owen McCann, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a Sunday hearing. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with two counts of possessing firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. McCann was arrested on 18 December 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in Dundalk as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was taken to Dundalk Garda Station, given his rights and then brought to the court. Wearing a navy jumper, he stood when the charge was read. Counsel Conan Fegan applied for legal aid and a bail application was scheduled for the following Tuesday at 10 a.m. The presiding judge remanded McCann in custody until that hearing. The case is still pending at the time of the report.
Joseph Finnegan, 54, of Cullenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk, County Louth, was charged before the Special Criminal Court on 11 July 2015 with membership of the Irish Republican Army and possession of two stolen cars, a Ford Focus and an Audi A4. He was also charged that same month with possession of an 8mm blank‑firing pistol and seven rounds, a double‑barrel shotgun and three cartridges. The court was informed of the charges by Detective Garda Graham Dunne, who handed Finnegan a copy of the charge sheet. He was remanded on bail until 26 January next year.
Thomas Murphy, aged 66, from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, has been found guilty of nine counts of tax evasion at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The three-judge court determined that Murphy failed to furnish returns of income to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996 to 2004, despite conducting substantial farming operations. Evidence presented during the 32-day trial included testimony from Department of Agriculture staff, managers at cattle marts in Roscommon, Ballyjamesduff, Kingscourt and Elphin, meat factory representatives, and Criminal Assets Bureau investigators. The court heard that Murphy received over €100,000 in farming grants and conducted cattle transactions exceeding €500,000 across various livestock marts. Murphy's defence, that his brother Patrick controlled the farming activities, was rejected by the judges. Forensic analysis of a bank account operated in Murphy's name revealed significant financial activity. Murphy was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 12 February 2016.
The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth, who is charged with alleged tax evasion. Mr Murphy, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges, is accused of failing to furnish returns of income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, he made no tax returns. In his closing speech, defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that reasonable doubt exists regarding who was the chargeable person, asserting that Mr Murphy's brother, Patrick, managed the farming activities. Kearney criticised the Revenue Officer's evidence as a superficial, face-value analysis that presumed Thomas Murphy signed documents without considering the alternate theory of Patrick Murphy's involvement. The defence also cited handwriting expert evidence suggesting Thomas Murphy did not sign certain documents. Presiding Judge Paul Butler, alongside Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan, indicated the court may deliver its verdict on December 17th, though he noted it was not certain. Mr Justice Butler remanded Mr Murphy on continuing bail until that date.
The Special Criminal Court has heard the defence closing speech in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging 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. Prosecutors, acting on a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, allege that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Murphy made no returns to revenue. Defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that Murphy's brother, Patrick, managed the farming activities and controlled the relevant bank accounts. Kearney contended that the prosecution cannot prove Murphy personally attended livestock marts or meat factories, nor that he was the chargeable person in charge of the farm. He further submitted that the forensic accountant's evidence was discredited by unanalysed materials, including Patrick Murphy's bank account. The defence requested the court to find reasonable doubt regarding the viability of the prosecution's evidence. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the closing speech expected to conclude the following day.
During the second day of the Special Criminal Court hearing, Thomas "Slab" Murphy (66) pleaded not guilty to nine tax‑evasion charges covering 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that, although he was involved in cattle and land dealings and received farming grants, he failed to file income, profit or gain returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes. The defence, led by John Kearney QC, argues reasonable doubt exists over whether Thomas Murphy was the chargeable person. Kearney suggests his brother Patrick Murphy, who managed the cattle herd and farming activities, may have been the actual farmer and the one who applied for the herd number in 1991. He also questions whether Thomas Murphy lived in Ballybinaby, noting he was not present during the 2006 CAB search. The trial will resume on Tuesday for the defence's closing speech.
Closing speeches are currently being heard at the Special Criminal Court in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, contends that Murphy was a chargeable person who received income from cattle and land dealings and farming grants but made no returns to Revenue. Burns argued that the crux of the case is whether Murphy was entitled to receive this income, noting that funds were deposited into his bank account and used for a pension policy. He dismissed the defence suggestion of identity theft as a construct to evade evidence. In response, defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that Murphy's brother, Patrick Murphy, managed the cattle herd and farming activities. Kearney cited a 2009 statement of affairs in which Patrick Murphy admitted to being in charge of the herd. The defence also highlighted expert handwriting evidence suggesting documents bearing Thomas Murphy's signature were forged. Kearney further noted that no cattle dealing cheques appeared in Murphy's bank account for its first three years. The defence closing speech is expected to conclude tomorrow, with the matter remaining at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 December 2015, Séamus McGrane, 60, of Little Road, Domiskin, Co. Louth, was denied bail. McGrane faces charges of directing the activities of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and of membership in the IRA, both offences committed between 23 December 2009 and 13 May 2015. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, rejected both his application and that of his solicitor, Tony McGillicuddy BL, for temporary bail.
Eoin O'Sullivan, a 28‑year‑old man from Cork, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a series of offences including dangerous driving, unlawful use of a stolen vehicle and endangerment. On 24 November 2014, Garda Blaine Feely stopped O'Sullivan on the M50 at Santry after a suspicion of dangerous driving. While the garda was partially inside the vehicle, O'Sullivan refused to stop, drove off, and later performed a U‑turn, travelling the wrong way on the M50 and the M1 before colliding with another vehicle at the Oscar Traynor Road Roundabout. He was also accused of tracing a stolen white Ford Transit box van used in a burglary in Louth. The court noted that O'Sullivan had 195 previous convictions, including dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a licence, careless driving and drink driving. Eoin O'Sullivan pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, has heard expert evidence regarding documents allegedly signed in his name. Murphy, who has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish income returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, is being prosecuted following a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Murphy made no returns to revenue. Defence witness and handwriting expert Stephen Cosslett testified that his first report found "strong evidence" that Murphy did not sign a number of questioned documents. He further stated there was "conclusive evidence" that three documents from 2007 to 2009 were signed by Patrick Murphy, the accused's brother. Regarding a second report examining cheques, Cosslett noted "limited evidence" that Murphy did not sign the reverse of the cheques, though he acknowledged the examination circumstances were "not ideal" as a magnifying glass was used instead of a microscope. Under cross-examination, Cosslett agreed it was "more than likely" Murphy signed certain land rental declarations and EU Area Aid Applications from 1994 to 2004. The defence has closed its case, and closing speeches are expected to be heard tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected the defence application to dismiss tax charges against Thomas Murphy, a 66-year-old from Ballybinaby, Co Louth. Mr Murphy, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish income returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, is currently on trial before a three-judge non-jury court. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy made no returns to Revenue. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL argued the case constituted an abuse of process, citing a Revenue Inspector's estimate of €15,000 annual farming income, and contended that the prosecution bore the burden of proving the absence of reasonable excuse. Presiding Judge Paul Butler rejected these submissions, stating there was no evidence supporting the abuse of process claim and ruling that the evidential burden regarding reasonable excuse falls on the accused. The court also addressed discrepancies in charge wording, noting earlier years included "knowingly and wilfully" while later years specified "without reasonable excuse." The trial, which stems from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on Friday.
The Special Criminal Court has heard defence submissions in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. Mr Murphy, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the source of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, is being prosecuted on foot of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make returns to Revenue. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL submitted to the three-judge, non-jury court that the charges should be dismissed as an abuse of process. He argued that the State has a duty to explore alternatives before prosecuting an indictable matter where the alleged net income is only €15,000 per year, a figure estimated by a Revenue Inspector. The defence also claimed that Mr Murphy's brother managed his cattle herd and farming activities. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to resume on Tuesday for prosecution submissions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 27‑year‑old Dean Moran of Emmet Square, Blackrock, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after threatening Irish Water workers with a plastic handgun model hidden in his tracksuit. The court found Moran had deliberately frightened the workers, who were installing water meters nearby, and had shouted threats such as "If you come near my house you will get this." Judge Martin Nolan, noting Moran's guilty plea and the seriousness of the threat, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. The sentence was suspended, and Moran was ordered to raise €1,000 for a charity chosen by Garda Gordon Woulfe within 12 months. No custodial term was imposed, and the case was closed with the suspended sentence and community service requirement.
In 2011, Nicholas Kendall, aged 25, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a range of explosive materials, including Semtex components, mortar bomb fusing parts, improvised timing units, explosive propellant powder, and clothes pegs modified as electro‑mechanical switches. He also pleaded guilty to holding a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol and a component of a timing power unit. The offences were uncovered during raids on his parents' rural home in Wexford and a house in Louth on 8 October 2010. On appeal, Kendall argued the sentence was unduly excessive. The court agreed, reducing the sentence to two consecutive five‑year terms with the final 21 months suspended, thereby establishing an effective custodial term of ten years and one month. The decision was based on the seriousness of the offences, the lack of prior convictions, and the plea of guilty.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has been adjourned until Friday. The defence applied for the postponement to furnish a report from a handwriting expert. Mr Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains, or the source of such income, to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, Mr Murphy failed to make any returns to revenue. The defence contends that Mr Murphy's brother managed the accused man's cattle herd and farming activities. The case is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. As the matter was adjourned, it has not been concluded or finalised.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, continued at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish income tax returns for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Prosecutors, acting on a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, allege that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Murphy did not pay taxes. During cross-examination, a Revenue Inspector testified that he estimated Murphy's farming income at 15,000 Irish Pounds annually from 1996 to 2001, and 15,000 Euro annually from 2002 to 2004. The Inspector stated these figures were fair and equitable based on available documentation, though he acknowledged the records were incomplete. Defence counsel John Kearney QC challenged the evidence, noting the Inspector did not verify signatures on grant applications and that Murphy's brother, Patrick, had transferred a herd number to his wife in 2001. The Inspector maintained this transfer was commercially normal and did not raise scepticism. Kearney further argued that documentation suggested a single farming unit and that Patrick Murphy's 2008 settlement with the State relied on a statement citing a herd number attributed to Thomas Murphy. The Inspector declined to speculate on whether Patrick's returns related to another herd. The trial continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, continued at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the source of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution is proceeding on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. During cross-examination, a Revenue Inspector, who cannot be named for legal reasons, testified that he does not know if the signature on farming grant applications belongs to Mr Murphy. The defence, represented by John Kearney QC, claims that Mr Murphy's brother managed the accused man's cattle herd and farming activities. The prosecution's case is that, although Mr Murphy conducted significant dealings in relation to cattle and land and received farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, he failed to make any returns to revenue. The witness agreed with the defence that if Mr Murphy signed the forms, it would mean he was the farmer of the herd, but confirmed he does not know whether Mr Murphy actually signed the documents. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, is prosecuting on foot of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, Murphy failed to make any returns to Revenue. Evidence from a Revenue Inspector, who cannot be named, was presented to the court. The Inspector stated that in October 2005, he was instructed to investigate Murphy's tax affairs. He examined various documents, including bank details, cattle mart invoices, Department of Agriculture grant cheques, EU Area Aid forms, and documents seized by the CAB from Murphy's and his family's homes. The Inspector concluded that Murphy was involved in the farming business and did not file tax returns from 1996 to 2004, asserting that documentary evidence showed Murphy was a chargeable person who should have furnished returns. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding over the three-judge, non-jury court, ruled the evidence admissible after defence lawyers raised objections regarding its admissibility. The trial continues.
Conan Murphy, 29, son of former Real IRA bomber Colm Murphy, had his 2012 conviction for possession of explosives at Aghaboys, Dundalk, quashed by the Court of Appeal. The Special Criminal Court had sentenced him to eight‑and‑a‑half years after finding him guilty on 22 May 2010. The appeal was based on the Supreme Court's declaration that a section of the Offences Against the State Act was unconstitutional, which the Special Criminal Court had not allowed to be considered. The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial and remanded both Murphy and co‑accused Philip McKevitt, 62, back to the Special Criminal Court. The appeal highlighted that the legal landscape had changed fundamentally and that the case required a new trial to address the altered circumstances. The decision was made on 6 November 2015.
John McDonagh, 36, a married father of three from St. Louises Park, Temple Hill, Blackrock, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill or seriously harm Garda Donacha Ryan during a search at his halting site on 4 December 2014. He had eleven prior convictions. Judge Desmond Hogan, after hearing evidence in July 2015, adjourned sentencing to allow a probation report. On 6 November 2015, Hogan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended on conditions including 240 hours of unpaid community work and completion of drug or alcohol treatment programmes as directed by the Probation Service. The court noted that McDonagh had threatened Garda Ryan with petrol and a knife, and had also made threats to other Gardaí. The judge described the area as "an almost no‑go area for Gardaí.".
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard legal arguments today in the non-jury trial of Thomas Murphy, a 66-year-old resident of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits, or gains, or the source of such income, to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau, alleges that although Mr Murphy conducted significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, he failed to make any returns to revenue. The court is currently at the hearing or decision stage, with the matter not yet concluded. The trial is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth, continued at the Special Criminal Court, where he faces nine charges alleging he failed to furnish returns of income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to all allegations. Evidence was heard regarding a ledger seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau during a 2006 raid on a shed on the border with Northern Ireland. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy made no revenue returns. Conversely, the defence argues the ledger was used to create a profit and loss account for the Murphy farming business, managed by Mr Murphy's brother. A forensic accountant, examined under cross-examination by defence counsel John Kearney QC, stated that the ledger represented a centralized recording system for the enterprise. While the defence suggested the ledger recorded all money in and out, the accountant disagreed that calculating a profit and loss account from it would be easy, noting he did not recreate such an account. He further stated that the ledger entries alone meant nothing without cross-referencing with other documents, a process he completed at the start of the trial. The afternoon's proceedings were taken up with legal argument. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
Conan Murphy, aged 28 and son of Colm Murphy, who was convicted of the 1998 Omagh bombing but later cleared, has filed an appeal against his own conviction for explosives offences. In March 2012, the Special Criminal Court sentenced him to eight and a half years' imprisonment after finding him guilty of possessing explosive substances at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, on 22 May 2010. His co‑accused, Philip McKevitt, 60, received the same sentence for the same offence committed at his home on the same date. The trial, which began in December 2011, revealed that Gardaí raided McKevitt's home and discovered an "adaptive" advertising trailer built to conceal two gas containers that had been modified to explode. The device, advertising "FlogTheLot.ie", was said to contain about 500 lb of explosive mix, capable of causing death and destruction comparable to the 1998 bombing.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin formally disposed of an IRA membership charge against Adrian Crevan Mackin, who killed Garda Tony Golden and later committed suicide. The court marked Mackin's indictment as "accused deceased" and ordered the return of his €100 bail and €5,000 independent surety. Mackin, 25, had been complying with bail conditions when he shot Garda Golden and seriously injured his partner Siobhan Phillips at their home in Omeath, Co. Louth. His counsel, Tony McGillicuddy BL, requested the hearing be treated as a trial day, which the judge agreed to.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth, continued with cross-examination of a forensic accountant. Mr Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish returns of income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, he did not make returns to Revenue. The case stems from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation following a 2006 search of a shed on the Northern Ireland border, where ledgers and cheques were seized. Defence counsel John Kearney QC suggested that Mr Murphy's brother, Patrick Murphy, managed the cattle herd, citing documents linking Patrick to the shed and diary entries indicating Patrick contacted Portlaoise regarding Thomas Murphy's payments. The forensic accountant disagreed, stating the documents related to the entire Murphy family and suggested centralized management and an organized bookkeeping system for the enterprise. The accountant clarified that diary entries referred specifically to Thomas Murphy's claims. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue tomorrow morning with further cross-examination.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, continued today with cross-examination of a forensic accountant working with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains, or the source of such income, to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make any returns to revenue. The accountant, who examined documents seized by CAB in 2006 from a shed on the border with Northern Ireland, described the contents as "extremely unusual." He stated that analysis indicated a centralised system for managing the finances of the Murphy family and an associated oil business. While defence counsel John Kearney QC suggested the documents showed a centralised operation by Patrick Murphy, the accountant disagreed, noting that proceeds went into Thomas Murphy's bank account. The accountant also highlighted uninterpretable codes in the ledgers and explained that simultaneous invoices for three family members reflected economies of scale rather than a single herd management structure. The trial continues.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, a forensic accountant from the Criminal Assets Bureau testified that a ledger seized from a shed on the Northern Ireland border is a record of Murphy's expenditure. The accountant, who cannot be named, had previously examined the ledger, cheques and cheque books seized in 2006. He described the ledger as "not the normal type of records one would encounter" and referred to it as the "loan book." The accountant cross‑referenced entries with a bank account opened in Murphy's name and agreed that an entry labelled "milk bill" was a payment of a milk bill, not a loan of milk. He denied that the ledger recorded loans from Patrick Murphy to Thomas Murphy and rejected the suggestion that the bank account was used for such loans. The trial will resume on Tuesday. Thomas Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Brian Fitzpatrick, 50, of Castleross, Dundalk, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances. The offence was committed on 16 December at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co. Meath. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one of the two counts shortly after the incident and has shown remorse. The court heard that he suffered severe psychiatric problems following a brutal assault 18 years earlier, which left him unable to work and depressed, and that he had received ongoing mental‑health treatment. He is described as a family man; his wife said she would be "lost without him" and that he had helped her after a fall. Fitzpatrick had raised funds for foreign missions and had worked with underage groups in his local GAA club. He had previously worked on boats and in factories in the UK to support his family.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for alleged tax evasion has heard evidence from a forensic accountant. The prosecution alleges that Murphy failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants. Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges arising from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation known as Operation Achilles. The unnamed forensic accountant testified regarding ledgers, cheques, and cheque books seized during a 2006 search of a shed on the border with Northern Ireland. He stated that specific letters in the ledgers, such as "T" and "under Tom," referred to Thomas Murphy, while other entries related to family members, including his brother Patrick. The accountant cross-referenced these entries with invoices from cattle marts and a bank account in Murphy's name. Under cross-examination, the accountant maintained his objectivity and independence, rejecting the defence suggestion that the operation aimed solely to target Murphy. He also disagreed with the assertion that the family operated as a single farm, noting that each member took their share of the money. The defence argued that Patrick Murphy paid the tax due for the herd. The trial continues.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy for alleged tax evasion, the prosecution presented evidence that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) discovered €256,235 in cash and £111,185 sterling in cheques in an outhouse at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, on March 9 2006. The outhouse, which faced a road in Northern Ireland and had been sold to Patrick Murphy, was searched by CAB detectives who also found documentation related to the oil industry and farming. A chartered accountant, who works with CAB, testified that a bank account opened in Thomas Murphy's name had a total debit of €624,807.49 and a total credit of €668,182.45 between 1996 and 2006, with activity levels varying in line with Murphy's sales. Murphy, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to file income, profit or gain returns for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the charge of IRA membership against Adrian Crevan Mackin, who killed Garda Tony Golden and wounded his partner before taking his own life, was struck out. Prosecutor Michael O'Donovan instructed the court to withdraw the single charge. Mackin, 25, had been granted bail on a €100 bond with a €5,000 surety and was complying with bail conditions at the time of the murder. Judge Paul Butler noted that the deceased could not defend himself against bail breach allegations, and the matter was scheduled for re‑mention on November 5th.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, for alleged tax evasion is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau, contends that although Murphy conducted significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants, he did not report this income to Revenue. During proceedings, the court heard evidence from Vincent Murray, a former procurement manager at Newgrange Meats in Slane, County Meath. Murray provided records indicating that a man named Thomas Murphy supplied cattle to the factory. Specifically, the court was shown records stating that on October 18, 2004, twenty-two cattle were slaughtered, supplied by Thomas Murphy of Ballybinaby. Two cheques totaling over €15,000, made payable to Thomas Murphy, were exhibited to the three-judge court. Defense counsel John Kearney QC suggested to the witness that the signatures on the back of these cheques were clearly different from the defendant's signature, a point Murray agreed with. The trial, which was adjourned before lunch, will resume on Tuesday.
The trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence that between December 2000 and August 2004, a man of the same name sold cattle worth over €160,000 for slaughter. The prosecution alleges that although the accused, aged 66 and resident at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, engaged in substantial cattle and land dealings and received farming grants, he failed to submit any tax returns. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish income returns to the revenue authorities for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Evidence from the financial controller of Donegal Meat Processors detailed cheques issued to Thomas Murphy during the period in question. The prosecution's case is being advanced by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The trial continues.
A trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence concerning banking transactions linked to a man named Thomas Murphy with an address in County Louth. The accused, aged 66 and from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish tax returns to revenue authorities for the years 1996 to 2004. The prosecution alleges he conducted substantial cattle and land dealings whilst receiving farming grants but made no income declarations. Evidence was presented regarding cheques drawn from an account at Permanent TSB in Dundalk, with payments made to livestock marts in Elphin, Ballyjamesduff and Kingscourt. The defence contends the accused did not control the account and that his brother Patrick Murphy was responsible for its operation. The case, brought following a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence regarding substantial cattle transactions spanning several years. A former project manager at Kepak Meat Processors testified that between August 1999 and August 2001, cattle valued at over €30,000 were supplied to the company by a man named Thomas Murphy. Additional evidence was presented concerning cattle purchases made in May 2004, including transactions at livestock marts in County Galway and Kingscourt, County Cavan. Mr Murphy, aged 66 and resident in County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish income returns to revenue authorities for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite significant dealings in cattle and land and receipt of farming grants, the accused made no tax returns. The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The trial before the three-judge court continues.
Michael McHugh, convicted of the 1985 murder of Garda Sergeant Patrick Morrissey, has lost a High Court action seeking his immediate release from prison. McHugh, with an address in County Armagh, was sentenced to death for the killing, which occurred following an armed robbery at Ardee Labour Exchange in County Louth. His sentence was subsequently commuted to 40 years penal servitude. McHugh argued he was entitled to credit for five months spent in pre-trial custody between July and December 1985, contending this entitled him to release after 30 years served. Mr Justice Paul McDermott dismissed the action, finding the court had no function in compelling the Minister for Justice to grant further sentence remission or commutation. The judge stated the Minister retained discretion to consider McHugh's claim but was not obliged to do so, and was entitled to consider the gravity of the offence. McHugh has served his sentence at Portlaoise Prison and is due for release in December. A related action remains pending before the High Court.
The trial of Thomas Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence regarding substantial cattle trading activity spanning several years. Prosecution witnesses, employed at livestock marts in counties Meath, Cavan, and Roscommon, provided documentation to gardaí detailing transactions in the name of a man named Thomas Murphy with an address at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth. Evidence indicated cattle purchases totalling approximately €370,000 between 1999 and 2005, transacted through Carnaross Mart, Ballyjamesduff Cattle Mart, and Elphin Co-op Livestock Mart. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land, and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make returns to revenue. Mr Murphy, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges relating to failure to furnish income returns for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The trial, conducted by the Criminal Assets Bureau, continues before a three-judge bench.
The trial of a man charged with tax evasion has heard evidence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin concerning significant cattle trading and agricultural grants. A former manager of Roscommon Livestock Mart testified that between 1999 and 2004, a man named Thomas Murphy traded cattle valued at over €150,000. A retired Department of Agriculture official gave evidence of farming grants totalling over €100,000 paid to an individual of that name at an address in Hackballscross, County Louth, between 1996 and 2004. The prosecution alleges the accused failed to declare income or file tax returns relating to these dealings across multiple years. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of failing to furnish returns of income and profits to tax authorities for the period 1996 to 2004. The case, investigated by the Criminal Assets Bureau, continues before a three-judge panel.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau, contends that although Murphy received over €100,000 in grants from the Department of Agriculture and conducted significant dealings in cattle and land, he did not report this income to Revenue. Evidence presented by Patrick O'Hara, a retired Department of Agriculture employee, detailed payments made to a Thomas Murphy at the defendant's address between 1996 and 2004. These payments, totaling over €100,000, were attributed to farming grant schemes including the Slaughter Premium Scheme and the Special Beef Premium. The case is being heard by a three-judge, non-jury court. The trial continues, with no final verdict or sentence issued at this stage.
Two men found liable in civil proceedings relating to the 1998 Omagh bombing appeared before the Master of the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday to answer questions regarding their assets. Liam Campbell of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, and Michael Colm Murphy of Lower Faughart, Dundalk, County Louth, were ordered to provide details of their financial holdings as part of enforcement of a judgment requiring them to pay families of the 29 people killed in the attack. Both men denied possessing significant assets. Mr Campbell stated he owns only a half share in the family home and adjoining land. Mr Murphy claimed to hold no assets following his divorce. Lawyers acting for the victim's families sought comprehensive disclosure of property, savings, shares and company interests. Following examination, both men undertook to provide sworn statements detailing assets valued above €5,000 by 23 October.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Thomas Murphy, a 66-year-old resident of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, is prosecuting on foot of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The court heard that in 1991, a man named Thomas Murphy applied for a herd number from the Department of Agriculture, a registration required for farmers dealing in cattle. Retired Department of Agriculture employee Pat Rafferty testified that he received the application form, which was signed by Thomas Murphy, and visited the Ballybinaby farm for an inspection before issuing the number. Rafferty stated he likely met the applicant during the visit but could not confirm the individual's identity with certainty. The prosecution's case is that Murphy received grants totalling over €100,000 over eight years and conducted significant dealings in cattle and land, yet failed to make any returns to revenue. The trial continues.