The Republic's High Court has ruled that Thomas ''Slab'' Murphy will go on trial for tax evasion at the Special Criminal Court.

The alleged former IRA leader from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross in Co. Louth faces nine charges of failing to file returns on his income, profits or gains over eight years from 1996.

Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill found today that state lawyers breached Murphy's rights by giving his solicitor only four minutes notice when they applied for the non-jury trial at the Special Criminal Court.

But he said the court order, containing three technical errors, should stand after the mistakes are corrected because Murphy's legal team did not take the early opportunities open to them to challenge the mistakes.