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'Slab' Murphy rented land in Co Meath, court told

Thomas "Slab" Murphy (centre), who owns a farm in Co Louth straddling the border with Northern Ireland, leaves the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he pleaded not guilty to nine tax offences in the Republic. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Thomas "Slab" Murphy (centre), who owns a farm in Co Louth straddling the border with Northern Ireland, leaves the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he pleaded not guilty to nine tax offences in the Republic. Picture by Niall Cars Thomas "Slab" Murphy (centre), who owns a farm in Co Louth straddling the border with Northern Ireland, leaves the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he pleaded not guilty to nine tax offences in the Republic. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

A Co Meath farmer told members of the Criminal Assets Bureau that a man named Thomas Murphy rented land from him and paid him in cash, a Special Criminal Court trial has been told.

It is the prosecution's case that, although Mr Murphy conducted significant dealings in relation to land and cattle, he failed to make any returns to revenue.

Republican, Thomas 'Slab' Murphy (66), of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the source of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004.

A statement given by County Meath farmer Brian Garvey in October, 2005 to members of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was read into evidence in court.

The court heard that Mr Garvey told the investigating CAB members that, in 1996 or 1997, a man named Thomas Murphy began renting land from him and that the rent was paid in cash and occasionally in third-party cheques from oil companies.

Thomas Murphy rented 246 acres off Mr Garvey for five or six years, Mr Garvey said in his statement, the court heard.

Mr Garvey told the CAB members that, from 1999 to 2002, Thomas Murphy paid 25,000 Irish pounds per year in cash.

The court also heard from Mr Garvey's statement that Thomas Murphy's nephew once gave Mr Garvey E5000 for rent.

"Other than the E5000 given by his nephew, all of the other money was given to me by Tom Murphy," Mr Garvey told the CAB members, the court heard.

The trial continues.