Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy is to seek an early hearing of his constitutional challenge to being tried for revenue offences in the anti terrorist Special Criminal Court.
His solicitor Paul Tiernan today told the three judge non jury court that his legal team would be applying to the President of the High Court within the next fourteen days for an early hearing of the application.
Murphy (61), of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, was in court for the brief hearing during which prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC said that the charges were originally brought in 2007.
Murphy is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The nine charges allege that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004.
He was returned for trial to the Special Criminal Court in 2008 from Dundalk District Court and he challenged the return at the High Court in November 2008. The High Court found that Murphy's rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.
Murphy has launched a new High Court bid to prevent his trial.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, remanded Murphy on continuing bail until next month on the basis that his legal team will lodge the necessary application to the High Court for an early hearing of the case.