'Slab' Murphy to be sentenced today
The Special Criminal Court is due to begin the sentencing of prominent Republican Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy this morning.
Last December the 66-year-old, who lives at Hackballscross in Co Louth, was found guilty of tax evasion following a nine-week trial.
He was found guilty of failing to file tax returns between 1996 and 2004.
Mr Murphy claimed he was the victim of an identity theft, and pointed the finger of blame at his brother Patrick, but was found guilty on all nine charges.
Those accused of tax evasion are usually tried before judge and jury, but when Thomas 'Slab' Murphy’s case file landed on the DPP’s desk, it was decided he should be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
His lawyers appealed the decision all the way to the Supreme Court, which ultimately cleared the way for his trial to be heard before the non-jury court.
A week before Christmas, a three-judge panel found him guilty of failing to file tax returns between 1996 and 2004, during which time the prosecution proved he had significant dealings in relation to cattle and land, and had even received Government grants for his farm in Co Louth.
He has been on bail throughout his prosecution and is due back in court today for his sentence hearing.
