Thomas "Slab" Murphy pleads not guilty to tax offences

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

Thomas "Slab" Murphy was on trial for alleged tax evasion at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin before a three-judge, non-jury court.

He has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains, or their source, to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004.

The proceedings were reported on 8 October 2015. Department of Agriculture witnesses gave evidence on 8 October 2015. The court was told that farming grants paid to a man named Thomas Murphy totalled more than €100,000 between 1996 and 2004.

Former Department of Agriculture employee Gráinne Dalton described EU Area Aid applications sent to the department in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004. She said the forms were signed by Thomas Murphy, with an address at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth.

Under questioning by defending counsel John Kearney QC, Ms Dalton acknowledged that she could not say forensically that the accused had ever held the forms. She could not say for certain that he had signed them. Mr Kearney said the defendant did not accept having any involvement in creating or submitting the documentation.

Opening the prosecution case, Paul Burns SC alleged that Mr Murphy conducted significant land and cattle dealings but made no returns to Revenue. He said substantial cash payments were made for renting land and for silage. He also alleged that Mr Murphy made payments exceeding €300,000, mostly in cash and through third-party cheques, and had access to significant sources of cash.

The trial was continuing.