George Redmond, the former Dublin Assistant City and County Manager, was back giving evidence at the Flood Tribunal today. He strongly denied a suggestion that he paid over the odds for land he bought from builder Michael Bailey on behalf of the council in 1989 or that he had agreed to waive £18,000 that Mr Bailey owned to the council.
Today, George Redmond was questioned about lands purchased by the Council from the developer Michael Bailey in 1989. Mr Redmond disagreed with Tribunal lawyers that he had paid over the odds for the land. Mr Redmond said that the purchase of the 9 acres of land in Swords for £30,000 was a breakthrough and a great achievement. Mr Redmond said the land had later been valued at £39,000, and described it as a coup for the council as it was to be used as open space for the people of Swords. The purchase was made 4 or 5 days before Mr Redmond retired.
George Redmond also said he never made a deal with the builder Michael Bailey to waive £18,000 worth of building levies just prior to his retirement in 1989. Council for the Tribunal Patrick Hanratty put it to him that this had been agreed as part of a deal in which the council bought land from Mr Bailey. Mr Hanratty said the matter had come to light after Mr Redmond retired, and Michael Bailey was dealing with other council officials. He said correspondence shows that Mr Bailey brought the deal to the attention of these officials. Mr Redmond said he was certain there had been no such deal. He said he did not have the power to make such a deal with anyone.
