At the Flood Tribunal, the former Assistant Dublin City and County manager, George Redmond, has been warned that he could go to prison or face a fine if he gives false or misleading information. Mr Justice Flood advised Mr Redmond to take legal advice on the manner in which he was giving evidence and the Tribunal was adjourned to give the witness a 15-minute break to such advice. This was the third day in which Mr Redmond was giving evasive answers. Under questioning, Mr Redmond revised evidence he gave the tribunal last Friday. He said today that one property developer gave him £20,000 in the late eighties. On Friday he had claimed the figure was £10,000.
Mr Redmond was being questioned about two loans he made to two businessmen in 1980. At one stage, Mr Justice Flood intervened to question the truth of Mr Redmond's evidence in relation to these loans. In 1980, George Redmond gave £110,000 in two loans to the arcade owner Jim Kennedy and the publican Malachi Skelly. He had known the men for less than a year when the first loan was given. There were no witnesses to the transactions. Mr Redmond said that he looked for no guarantees that they would honour the loan and he never got the money back.
He said that the two men were very congenial and persuasive. Mr Redmond was asked what interest he received on the loans. He said that he could not remember. Mr Justice Flood intervened, saying, "Are you seriously asking me to believe that a man who has managed funds in the way that you have does not recollect the interest you were paid?" Last Friday, Mr Redmond denied that this £110,000 loan represented equity in a multi-million pound land deal in Lucan in which Mr Kennedy and Mr Skelly were involved.
Later on the Tribunal examined Mr Redmond's diary entries for the year 1988. Seven politicians’ names appeared, indicating meetings and phone calls had taken place. However Mr Redmond could not remember much, protesting that was 14 years ago. Up to four developers were also listed. The name of one prominent Dublin house builder appeared 11 times. Mr Redmond admitted this man gave him £20,000 around that time, although on Friday he told the tribunal he got £10,000. Counsel for the tribunal wanted to know why this payment had now doubled. Mr Redmond answered that perhaps it was the warnings from the judge.
The Tribunal also heard from Mr Redmond about the circumstances in which a businessman, Brendan Fassnidge, got planning permission in 1988 for a filling station on the newly constructed bypass near Palmerstown village. Mr Redmond admitted that the development was undesirable and said he had vehemently opposed it.
For the development to proceed, Mr Fassnidge had to buy a strip of land owned by the council, lying between the proposed site and the road. Mr Redmond asked valuers in Dublin County Council to negotiate a purchase price of £120,000 with Mr Fassnidge. Mr Fassnidge said he could not afford the sum and offered to pay £5,000. An elected representative subsequently interceded on behalf of Mr Fassnidge.
A sum of £10,000 was finally agreed upon and planning permission was given. Mr Redmond was adamant that it was on the valuer's request and not by any influence brought to bear by the elected representative that the original figure was so drastically reduced. Mr Redmond admitted last Friday to receiving a £5000 payment from Brendan Fasnidge in 1989.
