Prominent republican Thomas “Slab” Murphy is to launch a new legal challenge to prevent his trial at the Special Criminal Court for alleged tax offences.
Mr Murphy (58), from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, 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 last year from Dundalk District Court and he challenged the return at the High Court last November. The High Court found that Mr Murphy's rights had been breached but ruled that the trial should go ahead.
The court heard today Mr Murphy's legal team is to mount another legal challenge to the trial in the High Court.
The court remanded Mr Murphy, who was in court for the brief hearing, on continuing bail until the end of May pending the outcome of the High Court proceedings.
Last October Mr Murphy, his brothers Frank and Patrick, and the Ace Oils fuel company agreed to give up cash, cheques and properties to Irish and British revenue officers.
Some €630,000, made up of €435,000 and £150,000 in cheques, payment orders and cash was seized at the family lands in Co Louth during a joint customs and police cross-Border operation in March 2006
Nine properties in north west England worth £445,000 were recovered by the UK authorities.