George Redmond has admitted at the Flood Tribunal that there was something inappropriate about his acceptance of sums of money when he was a senior Dublin County Council official. When Mr Redmond resumed giving evidence in the afternoon session, he was asked if he was aware of the rules of conduct governing local authority officers. Those rules state that such an officer should not ask for or accept any gift or reward of any kind for any help for information given to the public on official matters. Mr Redmond said that he was aware of the general thrust of the rules and said that he deeply regretted any transgression on his part. The Tribunal legal team then asked Mr Redmond if he was sorry for his actions and he replied: “that is an understatement.”
Mr Redmond was then asked if in the light of these regulations, accepting the sums of money described in the Tribunal this week were inappropriate. Mr Redmond said that he was contrite about what he did and that his actions were “in the area of inappropriate”. Mr Redmond still maintains however, that there were elements of benefit to Dublin County Council from the advice he gave to James Gogarty. Mr Redmond has now finished his direct evidence for this module.
Earlier today the Tribunal heard allegations of tax evasion by James Gogarty's former employer, Joseph Murphy Senior. The allegations were contained in an affidavit by a former Murphy Group executive Liam Conroy, who is now deceased. Mr Justice Flood said it was important that the affidavit be read into the public record before Mr Murphy gives his evidence in private in the Channel Islands next week. Applications by RTÉ and the Irish Times to attend those hearings will be heard at Dublin Castle tomorrow.
