THE HEARING of evidence has ended at George Redmond’s corruption trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the concluding stages have been reached.
Mr Redmond (84), College Gate, Castleknock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to two charges arising out of a compulsory purchase order on 167 acres at Buzzardstown and Coolmine, in northwest Dublin, when he was an assistant county manager.
He denies receiving £10,000 from the late Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Dunne on a date between October 10th, 1985, and June 26th, 1989, as an inducement in respect of the compulsory purchase order, and to receiving the money “as a reward for showing favour to another” in relation to the same land.
Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC (with Patrick McGrath) will give her closing speech today at the conclusion of legal argument which continued in the absence of the jury throughout day 14 of the trial.
Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC (with Angus Buttanshaw) will then address the jury on behalf of Mr Redmond.
The jury will start deliberating after it has been charged by Judge Joseph Matthews at the conclusion of speeches by both counsel on day 15 of the trial.
Judge Matthews commended the three women and eight men of the jury for their patience and timekeeping in relation to the case, much of which has been taken up with legal argument in their absence.