Courts / Dublin / Report

Application for herd number made under the name Thomas Murphy, trial of prominent republican hears

Date
2015-10-14

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

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.