Redmond denied legal aid

Former assistant Dublin City and County manager George Redmond was denied legal aid today to fund his legal battle against corruption convictions.

The 80-year-old, who has been in Cloverhill Prison since last December, claims he was in debt to the tune of €150,000 after a family member paid a number of legal bills for him.

He also told the Court of Criminal Appeal in Dublin both he and his wife were forced to live off a pension of around €1,500 euros per fortnight.

The court heard however, that Redmond had in the region of €40,000 in savings.

Mr Redmond added he had been forced to pay legal costs for appearing at the Mahon Tribunal and to fight the corruption charges in the criminal courts.

Redmond was found guilty of receiving a IR£10,000 bribe from garage owner Brendan Fassnidge relating to the sale of a right of way by Dublin County Council near the Lucan bypass in the late 1980s.

He also faces two further corruption charges, but it is not yet clear whether the DPP intends to proceed with these.

The Mahon Tribunal is examining allegations of corruption in planning issues in and around Dublin.

The tribunal’s third interim report, published earlier this year, found Mr Redmond had received a number of corrupt payments and that he had hindered and obstructed its work.

Redmond is appealing his corruption conviction on three points of legal principal and claiming a fresh trial is warranted as new evidence has come to light.