The reputed former chief of staff of the Provisional IRA, Thomas "Slab" Murphy, was patted down by a member of An Garda Síochána as he passed through the security check outside Court 11 in the criminal courts building on Parkgate Street yesterday.
The uniformed garda, who stopped Murphy after he’d passed through the special screening frame set up outside the door of the fourth floor courtroom, even had a look inside the 66-year-old’s cap.
After he had been told to go ahead, Murphy approached another garda who was sitting behind a table, taking names. Murphy gave his name when asked to and it was only then that the garda registered who he was. They both laughed.
Inside, when the three-judge Special Criminal Court got down to business, there was little to laugh about. The modestly-sized room was packed, the benches full, people standing around the walls.
Neighbours and supporters
On one side were what looked like neighbours and supporters, including Murphy’s brother, Frank, and his nephew, Ronan Kirk.
On the other were more formally dressed Garda officers and other servants of the State who had an interest in Murphy and a trial that had gone on for 32 days.
Murphy’s conviction had always been a significant story, but now, given his importance in the Provisional movement, it had the added element of being an election story.
There were no recognisable figures from Sinn Féin present to give moral support to the man the party leader, Gerry Adams, has described as a "good republican".
The hearing took two hours and Murphy sat alone on one side of the court on the bench reserved for convicted people.
Barrister Paul Burns SC had been asked to address the court concerning sentencing decisions taken by other courts in cases comparable to Murphy’s, which he did.
Burns also questioned Det Insp Kevin Ring about the raid on the Murphy farm in Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, in 2006.
His evidence of black bags hidden in a hay shed containing more than a quarter of a million euro, and more than £100,000, as well as cheques, documents and laptops, clashed with defence counsel John Kearney QC’s description of a family farm and Murphy’s job as a “yardsman” for a company in Crossmaglen, for which he gets just over £1,000 a month before tax.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said the court would give its decision on Friday, February 26th.
The assembled media experienced a moment’s deflation, but took comfort in the fact that the good republican’s fate is due to be revealed on election day, at 11am.
