Courts / Louth / Report

Trial of prominent republican hears evidence of seized ledger

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial of prominent republican hears evidence of seized ledger. Charges or matters: 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. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 1996 to 2004 Other
• 1998 and 2003 Other
• 2015-11-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report