Thomas Murphy (Irish republican) facts for kids

Thomas Murphy (born 26 August 1949), also known as Slab, is an Irish republican. He is believed to have been a leader, or Chief of Staff, of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA was a group involved in a conflict known as The Troubles.

His farm is located in Ballybinaby, Hackballscross. It sits right on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In December 2015, Murphy was found guilty of tax evasion. This means he did not pay taxes he owed. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in February 2016.

Thomas Murphy and the IRA

Thomas Murphy was allegedly involved with the South Armagh Brigade of the IRA. He was later believed to be chosen as the IRA's Chief of Staff. This role is like being the main leader of the group.

Some reports link him to important events during The Troubles. For example, he was named in connection with the Warrenpoint ambush in 1979. This event led to the deaths of 18 British soldiers. He was also allegedly involved in the Mullaghmore bombing on the same day. That attack killed four people, including two children.

Murphy was also involved in bringing large amounts of weapons into Ireland. These weapons came from Libya in the 1980s. He was part of the IRA's leadership group, called the Army Council. This group decided to end a ceasefire with the 1996 Docklands bombing in London.

In 1987, a newspaper called Sunday Times said Murphy was leading an IRA bombing campaign in Britain. Murphy tried to sue the paper for libel, saying it wasn't true. He lost the case after a retrial. During the trial, former IRA members and police officers gave evidence against him.

A book called A Secret History of the IRA by Ed Moloney suggests Murphy has been the IRA's Chief of Staff since 1997. Another book, Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh by Toby Harnden, also talks about Murphy's alleged involvement with the IRA.

In 2016, a TV show claimed that Murphy had asked for an IRA member, Denis Donaldson, to be killed. Donaldson was believed to be a British informer. Murphy has not responded to this claim. Donaldson's family said the claim was "absolute nonsense."

Smuggling Allegations

In October 2005, police and financial investigators raided businesses in Manchester and Dundalk. Media reports said this investigation was looking into Murphy's suspected wealth. He was believed to have made a lot of money from smuggling. This included oil, cigarettes, grain, and pigs. He was also thought to own parts of legal businesses and properties.

Near Murphy's home, police found a large underground room. They believed the IRA used this room for questioning people.

Thomas Murphy released a statement on 12 October 2005. He said he did not own any property. He also denied having any links to a businessman named Dermot Craven. Murphy stated that he had "been a republican all my life" and supported the peace process.

He also claimed he had to sell property to pay for his legal costs. This was after he lost his libel case against the Sunday Times. He said he made his living from farming. He strongly denied all the allegations against him.

On 9 March 2006, police and customs officials raided his farm again. They found diesel laundering facilities. These are places where illegal fuel is processed. They also seized money, cigarettes, and two shotguns.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams spoke in support of Murphy after these raids. He said, "Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He's a good republican." He also said Murphy supported Sinn Féin's peace strategy.

However, Arlene Foster, a political leader in Northern Ireland, had a different view. She said, "Whilst some people refer to Murphy as a 'good republican' the people of this area know him to be a criminal."

Legal Actions and Settlement

On 7 November 2007, Murphy was arrested in Dundalk. He was charged with tax offenses. He was later released on bail.

In October 2008, Murphy and his brothers reached a legal agreement. They paid over £1 million in assets and cash to authorities. This was to settle an investigation into money laundering and smuggling. Police seized cash and properties in both Ireland and Britain. Murphy was still facing charges for not filing tax returns for eight years.

In 2011, there were claims that Murphy was unhappy with the Northern Ireland peace process. Some said he had disagreed with Sinn Féin. However, there is no proof he supports other republican groups.

In March 2013, police raided Murphy's farm again. Reports said a fire was seen at his yard before the raid. This led to concerns that someone might have warned Murphy. Laptops and documents were destroyed in the fires.

Tax Evasion Conviction

On 17 December 2015, Thomas Murphy was found guilty of nine charges of tax evasion. This trial took place in Dublin. It was held in a special court without a jury. This was because of concerns about witness safety.

He was found guilty of not filing tax returns on his income as a "cattle farmer." This was for the years between 1996 and 2004. The investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau lasted 14 years. During a raid, they found bags with over €250,000 and over £111,000 in cash. They also found documents and ledgers.

On 26 February 2016, Murphy was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was immediately taken to Portlaoise Prison. This is a high-security prison in Ireland.

Murphy appealed his conviction in November 2016. His lawyer argued that his brother had paid the taxes. However, the appeal was rejected in January 2017.

In January 2017, Murphy was moved to a lower-security prison. He was scheduled to be released in April 2018.