'Slab' Murphy case delayed

The case against leading Republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy is to be delayed by one week after a large amount of new documentation was uncovered.

The 58-year-old farmer and businessman is facing eight charges under the Taxes Consolidation Act of failing to make full tax returns.

In Dundalk District Court today, a solicitor for the DPP said it was seeking an additional week to prepare the Book of Evidence against Mr Murphy.

He said that since the case first came before the court, a large amount of documentation has been found which had to be considered.

He also cited the complexity of the case and what he described as various other reasons why the State was seeking this extra week.

Thomas Murphy's solicitor, Paul Tiernan, said he had also received a large amount of documents in the court from the State as part of its disclosure to the defence.

Mr Tiernan told Judge Flann Brennan that they had been led to believe the Book of Evidence would have been ready today.

He also sought to have one of Mr Murphy's bail conditions changed. At present Mr Murphy has to sign on daily at a garda station but Mr Tiernan said his client often had to wait 30 minutes or longer for this.

Mr Murphy had signed substantial sureties as part of his bail conditions and, Mr Tiernan added, the case would not be proceeding until the Circuit Court in April at the very earliest.

He sought to vary the signing on conditions to once a week. Gardaí, however, objected to the change in bail conditions.

Judge Brennan remanded Mr Murphy on continuing bail to appear before the court again next week.

It is expected the Book of Evidence will be finished by that stage.

The judge also declined to vary the terms of Mr Murphy's bail but said he would consider doing so next week.