The Slab Beats The CAB

Despite the best efforts of the considerable resources of the CAB(Criminal Assets Bureau)their attempts to uncover incriminating bank accounts, and properties, linked to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy suspected former IRA Chief of Staff, six months later and nothing of any consequence has been uncovered.

An extensive trawl through banks here, in the U.K. and on the continent have revealed nothing other than some legitimate income from farming.

In Britain, the CAB's counterpart ARA (Assets Recover Agency) have been unable to link an estimated €10m property porfolio to Thomas Murphy, which appears to be registered in the name of a relative.

Six months ago a massive raid on his border farm, at Ballabinaby, near Hackballscross, was mounted by authorities from both sides of the border, and about €1m in cash and cheques was seized, and an illegal oil launcering operation was smashed.It was probably the biggest operation of it's kind since the 'troubles' broke out in the north.

Later he was served with a €5.3m tax assessment, and at the time the authorities boasted that the figure would probably go higher as they unravelled his finances.