Thomas 'Slab' Murphy case based on 'ludicrous documentation'

Thomas 'Slab' Murphy denies nine charges against him in a tax evasion trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin

The case against Thomas "Slab" Murphy is based on "utterly ludicrous" documentation which attempts to link him to a non-existent farming income, his defence barrister has said.

The 66-year-old republican from County Louth denies nine tax evasion charges.

The prosecution's case is that he had significant dealings in relation to cattle and land and received farming grants, but failed to make tax returns.

A court in Dublin heard a third day of closing submissions on Tuesday.

Mr Murphy's defence barrister told the Special Criminal Court that "fair analysis" of the evidence should lead to the conclusion it was the accused's brother, Patrick Murphy, who ran the farming operation and controlled the finances.

"I am suggesting that the person in charge of this farming enterprise was Patrick Murphy; that the profiteer was Patrick Murphy; that the chargeable person was Patrick Murphy," the barrister said.

"I am not suggesting that Thomas Murphy was not about the farm. But there is a big difference between growing up in a farming environment and being about the place doing bits and bobs and being the chargeable person, being the actual farmer in charge."

'Reasonable doubt lurks'

The three judges in the non-jury trial were told the case has been built on hearsay evidence and that key financial documents found inside Patrick Murphy's house had effectively been "buried" because they "didn't suit".

"When you scratch below the surface the reasonable doubt lurks just below the surface, and so does Patrick Murphy," the defence lawyer said.

It was also claimed the state was seeking to "galvanise" the suggestion Thomas Murphy received a farming income.

"It simply isn't there," the lawyer said.

The inclusion of "business drawings" for items like food, presents, watch repairs, boots and tickets to Paris should also deposit doubt in the minds of the judges, the barrister said.

"That's the height of the prosecution case. It reached the stage that it was utterly ludicrous," he added.

Allegations that Mr Murphy, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, had access to large sources of cash were also rejected.

The trial continues.