Thomas Murphy’s tax evasion trial hears closing speeches

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Thomas Murphy’s tax evasion trial heard closing speeches at the non-jury Special Criminal Court on 2 December 2015. He denies nine charges alleging that he failed to provide income or profits information to the tax authorities for years from 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution argued that Murphy was chargeable to tax because cattle-trading income was received or controlled through accounts in his name. The defence argued that his brother Patrick managed the cattle herd and farming activities, and raised evidence concerning allegedly forged documents. Defence counsel was expected to finish the closing speech on the following day.