THE GEORGE Redmond corruption trial yesterday heard that the terms "bribery" and "corruption" were never raised in meetings in 1999 between Mr Redmond's solicitor and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, who was then chief of the Criminal Assets Bureau.
This was revealed in a transcript read to the jury on day 13 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The transcript was of evidence given by his former solicitor, Anthony Harris, at a previous court hearing.
Mr Harris said in that evidence that the then Cab chief mentioned seizing his client's money and billing him for the tax with added interest and penalties. Mr Harris added that there was "no mention of bribery or corruption", and no reference was made to Mr Redmond's sons' houses that were bought with contributions from others.
Mr Redmond (83), of College Gate, Castleknock, has pleaded not guilty to two charges arising out of a compulsory purchase order on 167 acres of land at Buzzardstown and Coolmine, in north-west 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.
Prosecution counsel Patrick McGrath BL (with Pauline Walley SC) also read out evidence given by Mr Murphy during legal argument in the absence of the jury.
Mr Murphy said that having met Mr Redmond while in custody, he got a large brown envelope addressed to him on May 31st, 1999 containing documents relating to Mr Redmond's tax affairs. He compiled a report on the package and handed the documents to the Revenue officers.
The hearing continues.