Trial of five men accused of receiving corrupt payments to take place

The trial of five men accused of giving or receiving corrupt payments in relation to the rezoning of land in South County Dublin is due to open before a jury today.

The men include three former Dublin councillors and a sitting councillor who are accused of receiving payments in the 1990s for voting to rezone lands at Jackson Way, Carrickmines.

One of the accused, businessman James Kennedy, is charged with making corrupt payments to politicians at number of locations in Dublin city centre including Conway’s Pub, Buswell’s Hotel, the Davenport Hotel and the offices of Frank Dunlop.

Having pleaded not guilty to 16 charges on Tuesday last the 66-year-old told the court: “Can I have it recorded that I did not know any of those councillors nor ever met them in my life?”

Mr Kennedy is now living in, Queens Quay, Gibraltar.

Former councillors Colm McGrath of Swiftwood, Saggart, Donal Lydon of Stillorgan Park avenue, Liam Cosgrave of Merrion Park, Blackrock along with sitting Dun Laoghaire Rathdown councillor Tony Fox deny corruptly receiving money on dates in the 1990s.