Redmond not responsible for planning in 1987-88, court hears

The former City and County Manager, Mr Frank Feely has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Mr George Redmond did not have responsibility for planning matters in 1987-88.

Mr Feely said Mr Redmond was one of four Assistant Managers reporting to him and was to all intents Dublin County Manager except for planning and housing development which were delegated to two other assistant managers.

He told defence counsel, Mr Angus Buttanshaw BL, these arrangements were in place because the then Dublin Corporation, was building houses in the county area and planning had to be integrated across the whole area. Mr John Prendergast was the assistant manager in charge of planning.

Mr Feely told Mr Buttanshaw it would be Mr Prendergast and not Mr Redmond, who would have drawn up the planning permission order with 12 conditions as directed by a 'Section 4' motion adopted by Dublin County Councillors in relation to a petrol station on the then new Lucan bypass.

The jury has heard that final granting of this planning permission was dependent on the promoter, Mr Brendan Fassnidge, getting right-of-way access to the bypass through a strip of land..

Mr Feely was giving evidence on day-5 of the trial of Mr Redmond (aged 79), who has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption alleging he got £10,000 from Mr Fassnidge on a date unknown in 1987-88 relating to the sale of the right-of-way.

Ms Mary Allidine told Mr Brendan Grehan SC, defending (with Mr Buttanshaw) she worked on October 14, 1988 in the cash office at Dublin County Council. She signed a receipt issued to Mr Fassnidge of Grand Prix Motors Ltd for £10,000 dated that day.

Mr Paul O'Connell told Mr Grehan he was the architect engaged by Mr Bill Riordan to apply for planning permission for the petrol station. He said he didn't know Mr Fassnidge personally until near the end of 1987 and Mr Fassnidge was mistaken in his recollection of when they first met.

Mr O'Connell said Mr Fassnidge was also incorrect in telling the jury he had denied being the architect for the project. There would have been no reason for him to do that. Mr Riordan was dealing with Mr Fassnidge concerning this project and he understood Esso eventually built it.

Mr O'Connell added that he was paid by Maraton Ltd, a company owned by Mr Riordan.

Mr Redmond denies that while an agent or servant of the Council of the County of Dublin, a public body, he corruptly received a gift of money from Mr Fassnidge on a date between June 1, 1987 and May 31, 1988 as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of the sale of a right of way at Palmerstown, by the Council of the County of Dublin.

He also denies that as an agent he corruptly accepted for himself a gift of money as an inducement or reward for showing favour to another, namely Mr Fassnidge, in relation to the said principal's affairs, namely the sale of the right of way.

The hearing continues before Judge Michael White.