Thomas Murphy (Irish republican) facts for kids

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

Murphy's 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 is a lifelong bachelor and lived on his farm before his imprisonment.

Understanding the IRA's Activities

Thomas Murphy was reportedly involved with the South Armagh group of the IRA. He was later believed to be a top leader of the IRA.

He was accused of planning a serious event in 1979 where 18 British soldiers were killed. He was also linked to another bombing on the same day. That bombing killed four people, including two children.

During the 1980s, Murphy was involved in bringing large amounts of weapons from Libya. He was also part of the IRA's leadership group. This group decided to end a ceasefire in 1996, which led to a bombing in London.

Legal Challenges and Court Cases

In 1987, a newspaper called The Sunday Times accused Murphy of leading IRA bombings in Britain. Murphy sued the newspaper for libel in Dublin. Libel means publishing false statements that harm someone's reputation. He lost this case.

During a second trial, former IRA members and police officers testified against Murphy. The court ruled that he was an IRA commander and involved in smuggling.

Later, a boat captain named Adrian Hopkins shared details about how Murphy met a Libyan agent. Hopkins said Murphy paid for weapons and helped unload them in Ireland. According to some books, Murphy was the IRA's chief of staff from 1997.

In 2016, a BBC program claimed that Murphy had ordered the killing of a former IRA member in 2006. This IRA member was also a British informer. Murphy has not responded to this claim. The family of the person killed said the allegation was "absolute nonsense."

Accusations of Smuggling and Denials

In October 2005, police and financial investigators raided businesses in Manchester and Dundalk. These investigations aimed to disrupt Murphy's suspected large wealth. Reports suggested he had earned a lot of money from smuggling oil, cigarettes, and other goods. He was also believed 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.

Murphy's Public Statements

In October 2005, Thomas Murphy released his first public statement. He denied owning any property and denied links to a co-accused businessman. He stated:

"I have been a republican all my life and fully support the peace process. I will continue to play whatever role I can, to see it work."

Murphy also claimed he had to sell property to pay for his legal fees after his libel case. He said he made a living from farming. He added:

"There is absolutely no foundation to the allegations about me which have been carried in the media for some time, and repeated at length over the past week, I want to categorically state, for the record, that all of these allegations are totally untrue."

In March 2006, police and customs officials raided Murphy's house and other buildings. They arrested three people, but they were released later. Officials seized vehicles, computers, documents, weapons, cigarettes, and a lot of money. They also found facilities for illegally processing diesel fuel.

Political Reactions to Allegations

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams publicly supported Murphy after the 2006 raids. Adams said:

"Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He's a good republican and I read his statement after the Manchester raids and I believe what he says and also and very importantly he is a key supporter of Sinn Féin's peace strategy and has been for a very long time."

He also stated:

"I want to deal with what is an effort to portray Tom Murphy as a criminal, as a bandit, as a gang boss, as someone who is exploiting the republican struggle for his own ends, as a multimillionaire. There is no evidence to support any of that."

However, Arlene Foster, a political leader in Northern Ireland, had a different view. When Murphy was imprisoned for tax fraud, she said:

"Whilst some people refer to Murphy as a 'good republican' the people of this area know him to be a criminal."

Financial Investigations and Settlements

In November 2007, Murphy was arrested in Dundalk on charges related to not paying taxes. 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 in Britain and Ireland. This settled investigations into money from smuggling and money laundering. Over €625,000 in cash and checks was taken by Irish courts. Nine properties in England, worth £445,000, were taken by British courts.

Murphy was still facing a claim in Ireland for not completing tax returns for eight years. In 2010, he was again released on bail.

Later Developments and Raids

In 2011, there were claims that Murphy was unhappy with the Northern Ireland peace process. It was also said he had disagreements with Sinn Féin. However, there is no proof he supports any groups that oppose the peace process.

In March 2013, police and customs officials raided Murphy's farm. Reports said that fires were seen at his farm hours before the raid. This raised concerns that someone might have warned Murphy about the raid. Laptops, computer disks, and many documents were destroyed in the fires. An investigation was launched into this possible leak.

Tax Evasion Conviction

On December 17, 2015, Thomas Murphy was found guilty of nine charges of tax evasion. This trial took place in a special court in Dublin and lasted nine weeks. He was tried under anti-terrorism laws. This was because authorities believed there might not be a fair trial otherwise. There were concerns about witnesses and jurors being intimidated.

Murphy was found guilty of not providing tax returns for his income as a "cattle farmer" between 1996 and 2004. This conviction came after a 14-year investigation. During a raid on his property, investigators found bags with over €250,000 and over £111,000 in cash. They also found documents and ledgers.

Sentencing and Imprisonment

On February 26, 2016, Murphy was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was immediately taken to Portlaoise Prison, Ireland's highest-security prison. This prison is for serious criminals and those involved in conflict. He was escorted by armed police and army personnel due to security concerns.

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

In January 2017, Murphy was moved to Loughan House, a lower-security prison. He was scheduled for release in April 2018.