Prominent IRA personality Thomas ‘slab’ Murphy will appear before Dundalk District Court this Wednesday charged with failing to file tax returns on nine occasions.

Murphy was surrounded by armed police on guard as he was brought before a Co Louth court not long after medical staff called in to examine him said he was feigning illness.

The alleged former IRA chief of staff, reputedly worth between £35m to £40m, gained from money laundering and smuggling, was released on bail after facing nine charges of failing to file tax returns. He is to appear again before Dundalk District Court this Wednesday.

Judge Flan Brennan, at Ardee District Court, remanded Murphy on his own bail of €20,000 (£14,000) and two independent sureties of €50,000, according to The Scotsman. He ordered Murphy to surrender his passport, sign in daily at Dundalk police station and live at an address in the border county of Monaghan.

Further reading:

IRA linked Murphy charged with tax offences

Read story in The Scotsman