No obligation to give reason for non-jury trial in Thomas “Slab” Murphy case, says DPP
Murphy is being prosecuted on nine charges of failing to furnish tax returns for the years from 1996/1997 to 2004
Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy: challenge to the decision directing the tax charges be tried by the non-jury Special Criminal Court rather than the ordinary courts. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The Director of Public Prosecutions has argued before the Supreme Court that there is no obligation to give reasons for the decision to sanction a non-jury trial for a Co Louth man, Thomas “Slab” Murphy, on tax charges.
The DPP had certified, while these were ordinary tax offences, a non-jury trial of “this particular accused” was necessary, the five-judge court was told by Brendan Grehan SC, for the DPP yesterday.