‘Slab’ Murphy has Assets Seized

In a case that could prove very interesting, Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy has had over £1.5 million worth of assets frozen and the Times Reports that there may well be £15 million worth of bills accruing. ‘Slab’ Murphy is a huge figure on the Republican landscape, described by Liam Clarke in the Times as “Chief of Staff of the IRA” and he is also subject of quite an amount of ink in Ed Moloney’s Secret History of the IRA. Last night he was charged with nine counts of failing to file tax returns and was in front of a judge this morning.

Murphy responded to the raids and allegations through his solicitors;

As a result of the raid, Slab issued a press statement through his solicitors in which he denied any links to the Craven property group. “I do not own any property and in fact had to sell my own home some years ago to cover legal fees following an unsuccessful libel case . . . I make a living from farming,” Murphy stated.

One can read the Times article and its tone with the knowledge that Murphy still owes them £600,000 in legal fees following a failed libel case. In his book on the IRA, Moloney outlines the role of Murphy within the IRA heirarchy as a key figure in delivering Adams’ agenda to the rank and file. Moloney also alleges that he was involved in bringing in the shipments of weapons from Libya in the 1980s. There is much more in the book but it will be intersting to see how this one plays out.

Cases like these have a nasty habit of rippling outwards from the main player and affecting the wider republican movement especially Sinn Fein. Though the circumstance is dramatically different now, there will be a tight-rope to be walked in terms of support for both law and a key ally. Sinn Fein will probably manage it however it will not be without a major headache. The heirarchy appear to owe Murphy a great deal in that he has delivered key votes at key times yet their will be another side which will wish to reinforce their support for law and legal systems. There will be some relief that the Provisionals were given a pretty good report in the Monitoring Commission report yesterday and the sense that a few individuals are committing crimes rather than an organisational attempt to raise funds could possibly be pointed to here and perhaps therin lies the way out.

*Please watch yourself in the comments on this one. More over on Mick’s post at Slugger