Thomas "Slab" Murphy tax trial opens in Dublin

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

Thomas "Slab" Murphy’s trial over alleged failures to submit tax returns opened at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court on 8 October 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to tax offences covering 1996/97 to 2004. The proceedings were reported on 9 October 2015.

Prosecuting counsel Paul Burns SC said a Revenue official, using Criminal Assets Bureau anonymity provisions, had reported that Murphy filed no returns for 1996–2004 despite substantial trading activity. The court heard that a Co Louth applicant named Mr Murphy had received agricultural grants exceeding €100,000.

Burns also said Murphy had spent over €300,000 on renting land and silage, chiefly using cash or cheques from third parties. He said six-figure amounts had passed through Murphy’s hands through mart sales. Documents seized in outbuildings on Murphy’s farm supplied some of the evidence.

Department of Agriculture witness Gráinne Dalton addressed alleged farm-payment applications. Defence counsel John Kearney QC said Murphy denied participating and said the signatures were not his. Dalton said forms would have gone to Murphy at Ballybinaby. Kearney pointed out that this identified a townland rather than a particular house. Dalton accepted she could not say how many houses or people named Murphy were there.

Other officials confirmed papers concerning land rental at Rathe, Kilmainham Woods, Co Meath, and a herd-number allocation. Some papers concerned a veterinary official’s farm visit; others contained Murphy’s PPS number. Kearney said Murphy denied involvement with those documents.

The documents listed farm payments above €120,000 and movements involving hundreds of cattle into and out of Murphy’s herd.

The anticipated trial duration was three weeks. According to the report, conviction could attract a maximum fine of €126,000, imprisonment for five years, or both.