Redmond had money in 33 named bank accounts

In 1987 Mr George Redmond had 33 bank accounts, registered under different versions of his name, which contained "substantial…

In 1987 Mr George Redmond had 33 bank accounts, registered under different versions of his name, which contained "substantial" sums, the tribunal was told.

Counsel for the tribunal, Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, told Mr Redmond that investigations had revealed that some accounts were "maintained in the English version of your name, and others you maintained in variations of the Irish version of your name".

Mr Hanratty said that the two Irish names used by Mr Redmond were Saoirse O Reamoinn and Saoirse Mac Reamoinn.

"Of course, the balances on these various accounts varied from time to time, but some of them, I think, without going into any figures at this stage, were substantial", Mr Hanratty said.

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When asked about the 33 bank accounts, Mr Redmond replied: "There is an unreality about that. Well, most of those relate to special savings hopping from one account to the other. As far as I am concerned, I had one account with Ulster Bank. That was it."

Mr Redmond said that some of the other accounts, including one in AIB, contained small sums and had not been used for many years.

Mr Hanratty asked if the £2,000 cheque he received from JMSE for compiling a report on its lands in north Dublin during 1987 was made out in the English version of his name. "I am sure it was, but again I can't be sure", he replied.

Mr Hanratty asked: "Was it possible the cheque was made out to cash?" Mr Redmond replied: "I don't know." He added that he did not know whether there was a note or covering letter with the cheque, which arrived in the post.

Mr Hanratty asked if he kept a lot of cash at his home during this period. Mr Redmond responded: "What is the relevance of this?" Mr Hanratty said he was wondering whether he might have cashed the cheque. Mr Redmond said he thought this was unlikely. His best recollection was that the £2,000 cheque was lodged to his Ulster Bank account at Dublin Airport.

Mr Redmond said he held on to the cheque for a long time. "I didn't know what to do with it." He was not aware who the cheque was drawn on, but he presumed it came from somebody in JMSE.