Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy will spend the night behind bars after being convicted of tax evasion.

The 66-year-old, who lives at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co. Louth, was sentenced to 18 months in jail by the Special Criminal Court earlier today.

The 3-judge panel said he'd failed to file tax returns for his farming activities between 1996 and 2004.

Francesca Comyn was at today's sentence hearing for the Sunday Business Post- she says a few last minute arguments were put forward by Mr Murphy's defence team:

"He hadn't given evidence in his own defence, and that should be treated as a mitigating factor.

"But the court didn't give that much credence in handing down its decision today, and as he said the factors that were taken into account, his age - he's 66 - the fact that he's no previous criminal convictions.

"They also took into account the time he spent on bail - that's over eight years - that's when the charges were first brought."