‘Slab’ Murphy case told of ‘very different’ cheque signatures

The trial of prominent republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy for alleged tax evasion has heard that in October 2004 a man of the same name supplied cattle worth €15,000 to a meat factory for slaughter.

The trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin previously heard that a man named Thomas Murphy sold cattle worth €190,000 to other meat factories.

It is the prosecution’s case that, although Mr Murphy conducted significant dealings in relation to cattle and land, and received farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, he failed to make any returns to revenue.

Mr Murphy (66), of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to 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.

Criminal Assets Bureau

Mr Murphy is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Vincent Murray told the court on Friday that Newgrange Meats, a meat factory based in Slane, Co Meath, is involved in the purchase of cattle from farmers and cattle dealers.

Former procurement manager at the factory, Mr Murray provided gardai with records of the factory’s dealings with Thomas Murphy, the court heard.

The records were exhibited to the three-judge court, which heard that, on October 18th, 2004, 22 cattle were slaughtered.

The cattle were supplied by Thomas Murphy, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, the court heard.

Copies of two cheques, with a total value of over €15,000, and made payable to Thomas Murphy, were shown to the court.

John Kearney QC, defending, suggested to the witness that the signatures on the back of both cheques were “clearly very different T Murphy signatures.”

Mr Murray agreed.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.