Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy is to have his constitutional challenge to prevent his trial in the anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court heard by the High Court in June.
The three judges of the Special Criminal Court were told today by Michael O’Donovan, for the prosecution, that the three-day case has been fixed to begin in the High Court on June 1st.
Thomas Murphy (61), of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, was in court for the brief hearing today. He was remanded on continuing bail pending the outcome of the High Court challenge.
Mr 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 his rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.
Following that decision his legal team launched a new constitutional challenge to prevent the trial going ahead.