Proceedings by the former Dublin county manager aimed at halting his trial on corruption charges are due to start in the High Court today. Mr George Redmond (78) claims he cannot get a fair trial at the moment because of extensive adverse publicity about his affairs.
His application for an order preventing the trial going ahead has been delayed on several occasions, but the matter is listed for a full hearing today.
Mr Redmond's lawyers have supplied Mr Justice Kearns with a file of documents culled from newspapers, a book and radio reports, which they claim show he cannot be tried by an impartial jury at this time.
If his application is refused, Mr Redmond's trial on four charges of corruptly receiving bribes while working as the county manager in the 1980s is likely to go ahead later in the year. However, it isn't clear whether he will be medically fit to stand trial. He recently underwent heart surgery and is said to be in failing health.
The first two charges relate to the sale of a strip of land in Palmerstown by the council. It is alleged Mr Redmond corruptly received money from a garage-owner, Mr Brendan Fassnidge, as an inducement in relation to the sale. The other charges relate to the council's compulsory purchase of 167 acres at Buzzardstown and Coolmine in 1985 and 1986.
Although Mr Redmond has given evidence to the Flood tribunal, his name did not feature in the interim report published last month. Sources say this is probably because of these proceedings.
