Thomas "Slab" Murphy (58) has been remanded on bail to appear before a Dundalk court next week on nine charges relating to his tax affairs and to alleged criminal assets totalling some €2.5 million.
Mr Murphy appeared before Judge Flann Brennan at Ardee District Court in Co Louth.
Det Insp Kevin Ring told the judge the Criminal Assets Bureau had received instructions from the DPP that Mr Murphy had been arrested in Dundalk under section 16 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act and the Taxes Consolidation Act.
Mr Murphy is said to have made no reply when detained.
Det Insp Ring told the court Mr Murphy was brought to Drogheda Garda station. He said the defendant was charged and cautioned and had only said he wanted to see his solicitor in response to each of the nine charges.
While in Garda custody, the court heard that Mr Murphy had claimed he felt unwell and had been attended by a doctor who believed he was feigning illness.
Det Insp Ring said Mr Murphy was then brought to hospital where he was seen by a senior on- call neurologist. He said the neurologist found nothing to be wrong. Mr Murphy then signed himself out of the hospital despite advice to remain.
He was returned to the Garda station where he was charged at 4.25am yesterday.
Paul Tiernan, representing Mr Murphy, differed with Det Insp Ring over events at the hospital.
Mr Tiernan told the judge that his client was applying for bail and was prepared to surrender his passport, to stay with a brother-in-law in Inishkeen, Co Monaghan, and to sign on regularly at a Garda station.
Mr Murphy did not speak during the brief proceedings, but his solicitor said Mr Murphy was a bachelor "of good character" who had no previous court appearances. He added that his client had made a statement of denial and was seeking bail because investigations of this nature "tended to drag on".
"The charges relate to failure to file returns," he said. "It will be a long and detailed investigation that would take considerable time." The judge said he was disposed to grant bail and awaited the lodging of sureties.
Mr Murphy lodged €20,000 with the court, while relatives lodged property deeds in place of an independent surety of €50,000. The judge ordered him to sign on daily at a Garda station pending another court appearance on November 14th.