Friday, March 10, 2006
but is he a very naughty boy?
An interesting interjection by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, as the searches and examination of documents and computers seized during the co-ordinated raids in Louth and Armagh yesterday continue… as noted by RTÉ - The Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, has described the man linked to a number of ongoing Garda and PSNI investigations, Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy, as not a criminal, but a good republican and a long-standing supporter of Sinn Féin’s peace strategy. He is also reported to have said that smuggling was wrong and that his party supported the pursuit of criminal assets.. and if I find the actual quotes I’ll post them. Update According to the UTV report the operation was codenamed Achilles. More RTÉ News report has the comments as they were made[RealPlayer video]
I’ll just note what Adams actually said about Thomas Murphy -
“Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He’s a good republican. I read his statement after the Manchester raids. I believe what he says. He’s also, and very importantly, a key supporter of the Sinn Féin peace strategy and has been for a very long time.”
Additionally, when asked, by RTÉ’s Tommie Gorman, whether he believes Murphy’s denial of membership of the IRA Army Council, Adams said -
“If he denies being a member of the IRA, then I have to accept that.”
Further Update A longer report of Adams’ comments on RTÉ radio[RealPlayer audio file] in which he criticises the “snide coverage” as well as the manner, of the co-ordinated raids and, interestingly, while disparaging the reports of Thomas Murphy as a “super duper gang leader”, or a godfather figure, and disparaging the reports of individuals exploiting republicans, acknowledges that there are greedy people on all sides.
Pete Baker @ 01:32 PM
Foolish move Adams getting involved like this as the very dogs on the street know that SLAB is up to his neck in criminal activity. The folks of Dundalk and North Louth have know about Murphys activities for years. Fighting the Brits is one thing but oil smuggling and any other kind of smuggling is out and out criminality. Slab, theres your cross border bodies now for you. Note how they waited until after decommissioning before moving on him. Slab will still walk away from this, too risky for the so called Peace Process coming down too heavy on him.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 02:50 PMA tactical blunder on the part of Mr Adams.
He has relatively little to gain from making these remarks, but they could continue to haunt him for years to come.Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 02:59 PMThe agenda here is that the brits are trying to taint slab murphy as a criminal and by extension the IRA and further the enire republican struggle. Gerry Adams is right to defend this man and dont let those behind all of this think that republicans will isolate people when they become victims of this black propganda.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:07 PMJ Kelly,
Is there really any serious doubt that “slab” has some nefarious business dealings?
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:11 PMIt’s possible of course, that Gerry is far too clever to commit himself like this unless he knows that Mr. Murphy has clean hands.
Unionism has suffered before from believing it’s own propaganda - remember all that stuff about republican drug dealing which ended in McQuillan of the ARA having to admit that ‘republicans don’t do drugs’.
I freely admit that I don’t know the inside facts here but I do know the track records of the security forces and their allegations - and it isn’t good.
Whatever republicans as an organisation had to do during the long war is one thing but the war’s over long ago. Time for people with accusations to ‘put up or shut up’?
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:13 PMWell now was it really meant to turn out like this? Not only the guns but the illegal gains must go to!!
‘Thomas Murphy is a good republican’ but then so was Mr Scappatticci. All good republicans are good smugglers, I have noticed that the illegal smokes have gone up in price, now £2.50 for twenty whereas before they could be got for £2-£2.25. still better than Gordon Browns £5. for 20!! I wonder how much they do the oil for? Peace is great except what you save on the smokes in one hand goes out in the other now all of us must pay our tv licences.
Anyone know where I can get some of slabs oil?
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:23 PM‘The dogs in the street’, ‘everybody knows’, ‘Is there really any serious doubt’.
The lexicon of the idiot.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:24 PMfk i dont the man or any of his business dealings but would it not be fair to say that many many people who have business interests have not always been 100% clean. Lets be honest would it surprise you if this guy evaded the odd bit of tax or the like but those without sin cast the first stone. Back to the real issue the is a black propoganda exercise against republicanism so lets see it for what it is. Fianna Fail have been up their eyes in corruption how many of their people are being investigated by the CAB. If charlie haughey was a shinner would he have been treated so lightly.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:28 PMAs I understand it the libel laws in your neck of the woods are intense. I would have to guess, if it were me, and I were not a dubious figure, I would have sued the living hell out of a good number of authors by now. So many books, some very popular, have painted “Slab” as a godfather. As a ‘victim’ he should go after them, protect his good name and put an end to such works.
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:33 PMFK
He did sue the Sunday Times for libel when, as I recall, they reported that he was a member of the IRA Army Council.. he lost the case.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:37 PMThanks Pete!
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 03:39 PM‘’Peace is great except what you save on the smokes in one hand goes out in the other now all of us must pay our tv licences.’’
Quite agree Busty Brenda (delightful Nom De Plume—beats Middle-Class Taig any day).
It is quite bizarre that the ‘peace dividend’ consists of us paying through the nose—water charges, huge rates, gas & electricity hikes, unaffordable housing, pointless ‘inquiries’ that cost a couple of hospital wings, health & education cutbacks and a great big money pit at Stormont.
This place cost the British Exchequer an absolute fortune when the ‘troubles’ were in full swing—now that they appear to be over, the money has disappeared and the rest of us are getting the bill. Is this simply a case of ‘behave badly and you’ll get a bundle of money?’“If he denies being a member of the IRA, then I have to accept that.”
Absolutely hilarious. Made my day.
GLC.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 04:04 PMTAFKABO - at least the ex-rir boys got their slice of the cake.
Like your first post elpaso - I mean talk about nonsense. 3Even the dogs on the street3 like - roll another cliché out there why don’t you. And no, I’m not more convinced by the fact that you used his nickname like he was an acquaintance of yours.Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 04:24 PMTAFKABO2, if I ever get charged with anything I sincerely hope you are on the jury, in fact I will demand you and ten other gullible idiots. Slab Murphy, just a gentleman farmer? Get real. We have all seen photos of oil tankers queueing up in his farm yard, no doubt if he said the drivers were all personal friends, who had called round for tea you would swallow it, not really but you would claim it was a plausible story. The reality, that the RM are up to their necks in criminality is too much of an appalling vista.
Pete Baker, he lost the libel case but I don’t think he ever paid his costs, he just doesn’t give a shit you see, and up until now he has got away with it. Eamon Collins got his for testifying against him though, battered to death a few days before the ceasefire.Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 04:39 PMAs an Englishman who hiked from Jonesborough to Forkhill to Crossmaglen just 4 weeks ago in best tweeds, i would say it’s about time Slab Murphy was put out of business. can’t say i’m going to be buying a holiday cottage to be honest but…
if he was just a farmer why aren’t there any road signs for 3 miles around his farm? who were all those strange people who would drive past slowly checking you out, the closer you got?
Slab Murphy sued the Sunday Times for naming him as Chief of Staff of the IRA. He lost and it cost him a fortune (1998?). Which would say to me that he IS (or was) what the Sunday Times said he is (or was).
the man profits from the border by running oil through underground tanks either side of the border. his barns are built literally with one half in each country for claimimg livestock subsidies. he gets rich while everyone suffers.
it’s a shame because as someone above suggested, the investigation can’t go too far for upsetting the peace process. but he really needs shutting down for the good of all parties.
peace to you all, of whatever persuasion
(moving to North Armagh in July and needed to see South Armagh to understand my soon to be new home)
great site!
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 05:00 PMTafkabo
We haven’t all seen the photographs, at least I haven’t. Can you provide a link.
If this gentleman really is making money by taking oil into one side of his barn and then out the other, wouldn’t a simple solution be for the Irish and British governments to reconstitute the border commisiion from the 20’s to redraw the border so that all of his property is in the republic. Other anomalies could also be resolved at the same time.Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 05:28 PMTAFKABO5, The ariel photos have been in the Irish Times, Indo and other newspapers. I don’t have the technical know-how to provide links, assuming the photos are online.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:00 PMWhy does post 16 say it was posted by Tafkabo when it was me who posted?
Joe
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:05 PMIt is a glitch… everyone has to sign their names or we get lost.
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:08 PMThanks FK
Joe
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:15 PMI’m a good hand w/ Google but haven’t been able to find any images of oil tankers on the Murphy farm. Not that they don’t exist, I just can’t lay hands on one. I have found a zillion references to tankers backed up...maybe “google earth” is the next stop.
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:37 PMGoogle Earth is yet more evidence that the Brits continue to spy on the people of south Armagh!
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 06:47 PMJ Kelly,
Are you joking? I was joking b/c Google Earth’s images aren’t real time.
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 07:42 PM“Slab Murphy sued the Sunday Times for naming him as Chief of Staff of the IRA. He lost and it cost him a fortune (1998?). Which would say to me that he IS (or was) what the Sunday Times said he is (or was). “ - TAFKABO
Which, in turn, would say to all rational people that God gave you an extra chromosome.
Posted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 08:19 PMJ Kelly,
Ok maybe the above logic was shaky but no reason for that comment.
FKPosted by on Mar 10, 2006 @ 08:31 PM
