Posted on 03/24/2006 6:20:45 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite
He is not a criminal, says Adams Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams yesterday stood by alleged former IRA chief Thomas "Slab" Murphy. The businessman, whose farm is at the centre of a police probe into a multi-million pound smuggling operation, has been wrongly demonised, he claimed. Mr Adams said: "Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He is a good republican."
Murphy's sprawling estate, straddling the Irish border, was among 15 properties searched yesterday during police raids planned in Belfast and Dublin.
Around £200,000 in cash, 30,000 cigarettes, 8,000 litres of fuel and weapons were all seized in the offensive against organised crime.
Two men and a woman arrested during swoops in north Louth and south Armagh were questioned and released last night by gardai.
Murphy, the one-time alleged IRA chief of staff, who is already under investigation by the Assets Recovery Agency probing house sales in the greater Manchester area, was not detained.
But police, Customs officials and soldiers were all involved in a major operation on his land at Hackballscross.
Murphy, 62, insists he is a legitimate farmer with no involvement in crime.
And Mr Adams offered his total support following raids which were months in the planning.
"I read his statement after the Manchester raids and I believe what he says," the West Belfast MP said. "He is also a keen supporter of the Sinn Fein peace strategy."
Asked if Murphy was a member of the IRA Army Council, Mr Adams said: "If he denies being a member of the IRA then I accept that."
Mr Adams was critical of the scale of the huge cross-border operation, but backed its objectives.
"We support the pursuit of criminal assets," he said. "Anybody who is involved in criminality should face the full rigours of the law.
"That includes the right to a fair trial and the right not to be vilified in the media."
The IRA trained in Libyan terrorist camps.
I'm half Irish and my heart breaks for what Ireland's had to endure at the hands of Great Britain, but terrorism is evil.
LOL!
It amazes me that Slab Murphy has gotten away with bloody murder for decades whilst running a smuggling operation that generates more revenue than the economies of many third world countries! He is like a mafia don, anyone who testifies against him or investigates him can depend on being murdered, and that includes members of the Gardai. The only time he has been held accountable was the finding against him in the libel case he himself brought against the Sunday Times for a truthful article they published about his criminal activities. Everyone in South Armagh is scared to death of him and for good reason - I hope they get the bastard this time!
I hope they get him too - a big blow to the Raffia, pity they won't go after Adam, McGuinnes and Ferris too!!
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