Thomas "Slab" Murphy (Irish: Toms Mac Murchaidh: born 26 August 1949[1]) is an Irish republican, believed to be a former Chief of Staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Detective Chief Supt Felix McKenna, head of Cab at the time, told the High Court Ace Oils was operating from the Murphy family farm, which straddled the Border with buildings in both jurisdictions. The 66-year-old, who was handed an18-month sentence for tax evasion last week by the Special Criminal Court, has settled in well at the Midlands Prison. Thomas "Slab" Murphy has denied being an IRA leader, but for years police - on both sides of the border - regarded him as one of the organisation's most senior and influential figures. There are currently 3 homes in Murphy Farms for sale ranging from $369,900 to $475,000. The newspaper also called five gardai, British Army Brigadier Peter Morton and three customs officers as witnesses. Murphy was found guilty on all charges of failing to furnish tax returns on his income as a "cattle farmer" between 1996 and 2004. [3] EuroMillions results: Winning Irish ticket location as players urged to check for Fridays prize. Evil scum., The strange thing is that he kept them all the letters and cards from grieving relatives and the written threats.. PSNI officer at the scene of the major cross border search operation Near Crossmaglen in Co Armagh, Thursday March 9 2006. He was also to due to appear for the Guardian in a forthcoming libel. In a statement from his prison cell the alleged Provo chief said he would appeal and criticised investigations into him, the trial and the media. That view was endorsed by Northern Ireland's former First Minister Peter Robinson, who said it would have been "sheer madness" for Murphy to be tried in front of a jury. The three judges found him guilty of failing to furnish tax. [23][24] Murphy was later released on his own bail of 20,000 with an independent surety of 50,000. It is the convenience of the location which lends itself to the illegal trade of fuel. The border dissects the original dwelling house and farmyard with the majority of the dwelling being located in Co Louth and approximately 60% of the yard area in Co Armagh. The fifth shipment was. created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant From calling for DNA tests, to getting a psychic involved - heres a timeline of what has happened. Under political and media pressure over allegations of the IRA's continued presence in South Armagh, Adams said: "Tom Murphy is not a criminal. If you meet Murphy driving along the road, hell head straight for you and youd be wise to go straight into the ditch. People often remarked to me at the time why we didnt just take him out. Murphy, from Hackballscross, Co Louth, was found to owe the Exchequer taxes, penalties and interest of almost 190,000 for tax dodging from 1996 to 2004. I believe that in addition to the above property, Murphy owns and controls a number of farm sheds and outbuildings on lands adjoining the Ace Oils Limited business premises. It would have been "sheer madness" to set up a jury trial for prominent republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, First Minister Peter Robinson has said. He lost the case. Prominent republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy has been found guilty of tax evasion. The National Lottery has today revealed details about the golden ticket. Col Kemp told the programme that his role gave him access to intelligence information about IRA activities, including lists detailing the identities of the main IRA figures operating in south Armagh. Murphy's sprawling cattle farm, with his front door just feet from the border, was targeted along with 15 other properties in Louth and South Armagh. Garda officers drive fuel tankers from the scene of a major cross border search operation near Crossmaglen in Co Armagh in March 2006. Something went wrong, please try again later. Pension Multiplier - commuted of full pension value used. OCallaghan, who worked as a garda informer while also active as a senior Provisional IRA member, told the jury that that he had met Murphy at two meetings of the IRA Army Councils General Headquarters Staff in 1984 and 1985. RTE viewers divided over comedian Emma Dorans appearance on Late Late Show, The comedian Emma Doran had viewers in stitches with some of her risqu stories on Friday's Late Late Show, Woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann says her doctor received bombshell phonecall from mother, The claim was made on an Instagram live with Dr Fia Johansson and Julia Wendell, Ireland snow forecast as Met Eireann pinpoints exact date of serious weather change. Key figure: Thomas 'Slab' Murphy Murphy was named as a key figure in. Just before dawn on a Thursday in early March 2006, several hundred police and soldiers swarmed Thomas "Slab" Murphy's border farm. He said: At the centre of this lot was Thomas Slab Murphy. I will continue to play whatever role I can, to see it work.". He explained: South Armagh was a place apart, where the IRA had many factors working for it. Three persons were arrested by the Garda, but were released three days after. There was even a letter from a US student addressed to the Head of the IRA, seeking an interview as part of her thesis. Access to the shed was through a gate on a road on the northern side of the Border, which opened out on to a farm complex owned by the Murphys. It says there is currently some 'uncertainty' for midweek with a risk of snow in some areas. For other inquiries Contact Us. "Other inmates have a lot of respect for him and he is seen as a god to many. Garda believe fuel was being smuggled from either side depending on the taxes being applied to fuel and the resultant retail price differential in these jurisdictions at different times. A girl claiming to be missing Madeleine McCann went viral on the internet two weeks ago. The blitz on Ballybinaby came six months after IRA decommissioning had been announced. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The house didnt look like much like something from Ireland in the 1950s and a kip to boot. Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox, Thomas 'Slab' Murphy's farm raided decade ago, Republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy jailed for tax evasion, Adams criticised over 'Slab' Murphy support, Flight diverted to Belfast after latest drone sighting at Dublin Airport, Protestors interrupt ceremony bestowing Bertie Ahern with honorary doctorate for peace process role, West Belfast woman's childhood Troubles art to join museum's exhibition on the conflict, Everything Everywhere All At Once sweeps Film Independent Spirit Awards, Self-help author is first Democrat to challenge Joe Biden for party nomination. One of three brothers, Murphy is a lifelong bachelor who lived on the Louth side of his farm before his imprisonment. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Three people were arrested during a massive security operation linked to a major investigation into organised crime on both sides of the Irish border today. Elsewhere in his newly published memoirs, Guthrie spoke of his appointment as Chief of the General Staff a year before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4788880.stm, The Times - Case of Cpl Ellement, who hanged herself, leads to call for RMP watchdog, Speech: Home Secretary's Defence and Security Lecture, Speech: James Brokenshire Adjournment Debate Speech, Speech: PM and Deputy PM speech on emergency security legislation, News story: G8 Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, All Internet links/videos/pictures in here ONLY. Their trawl of his tax affairs over a nine-year period led to him being charged in 2007. submissions or preferences. Top republican at centre of border raids crackdown. He also ignored questions on his way in to hear his fate. The CAB investigation continued in tandem with a major probe by what was then the UK's Assets Recovery Agency. Feedback on Inside Slab Murphy's multi-million euro, cross-border smuggling empire. Murphy ran a profitable cross-border trade, first with pigs and cattle and then with fuel and oil. Bandit Country devotes a whole chapter to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy and his farm complex that happens to straddle the border, much to the consternation of every British imperialist sent to the area. After an investigation involving the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency, more than 625,000 euros (487, 000) in cash and cheques was confiscated by the Republic's courts, while nine properties in northwest England worth 445,000 were confiscated by British courts. Thomas Slab Murphy is believed to be the former Chief of Staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Thomas 'Slab' Murphy Credit: PA:Press Association He was sent to command the Welsh Guards in South Armagh in 1979 a month after the IRA had murdered Lord Mountbatten on a boat off Sligo and. If they planned an operation and brought a young volunteer in for a task, he or she would be given no detail of the operation except for the task to carry out.. AVERAGES: Taxes: Sq. The jury also heard that garda had found a false passport in the name of Jim Faughey which Murphy had used to travel abroad. Major Irish snow update as Met Eireann forecast worst-hit counties in -3C blast, I tried on the most gorgeous dress at Zara - its perfect for a spring wedding, Today presenters left stunned as woman looks unrecognisable after makeover, Lidl Ireland selling cute 11.99 garden staple & there's different versions, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Brian Lawless / PA Wire I believe that criminal groups operating from the south Armagh area are involved in prolific fuel smuggling not only on both sides of the Irish border but also into Great Britain. Alleged former IRA chief of staff Thomas "Slab" Murphy is being treated like a god by fellow inmates since being jailed. Dressed in a pink shirt, brown jacket and slacks, Murphy showed little emotion in the dock as the sentence was delivered. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Sunday Times in 1985 reported that Slab Murphy had been appointed the Provisional IRA operations commander for Northern Ireland and had sanctioned a planned bombing campaign of 12 seaside resorts in England which was thwarted when British police arrested the IRA active service unit in Glasgow. In March 2006 around 130 officers from the Gardas Special Detective Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Emergency Response Unit and Customs swooped. ALMOST a decade ago, in March 2006, several hundred police and soldiers raided Thomas 'Slab' Murphy's border farm. First, there was the topography of the land and its proximity to the border with the Irish Republic, where we had few friends and where the terrorists could slip across with ease. He said: Thats a matter for the court but what we are concerned about is trying to bring about real change, real change in peoples lives.. Hopkins detailed how Murphy met a named Libyan agent in Greece, paid for the weapons to be imported, and helped unload them when they arrived in Ireland. Her Majestys Revenue and Customs estimated that revenue loss in Northern Ireland was 380 million pounds (sterling) in 2000.
