THE trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy for alleged tax evasion has heard that the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau found notes totalling more than €250,000 and £100,000 during a search of an outhouse on the border.
It is the prosecution's case that although the prominent republican conducted significant dealings in relation to cattle and land and received farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, he failed to make any revenue returns.
The 66-year-old, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin's Special Criminal Court 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 from 1996/97 to 2004.
He is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
Yesterday a statement made by Detective Sergeant Tony Brady was read by prosecuting counsel Paul Burns to the three-judge, non-jury court.
The court heard that on March 9 2006, CAB members searched an outhouse at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, that the outhouse faced a road in Northern Ireland, and that it had been sold to Patrick Murphy.
While searching the outhouse, the detectives found cash, cheques, and documentation related to the oil industry and to farming and livestock.
The court heard that the total cash found in the plastic bags was €256,235 and £111,185.
Evidence was also given yesterday by a chartered accountant, who works with CAB and cannot be named for legal reasons.
He told the court that he analysed a bank account opened in the name of Thomas Murphy.
From 1996 to 2006, the total debit on the account was €624,807.49 and the total credit was €668,182.45, the court heard.
When asked by Mr Burns about the pattern of activity on the account, the chartered accountant said: "In some years there was significant activity. In other years there was a much lower level of activity, which reflects the levels of sales by Mr Murphy during the year."
"When you say Mr Murphy who are you referring to?" Mr Burns asked.
The chartered accountant replied: "I'm referring to Thomas Murphy."
The trial continues.
