George limbers up on lunch break

Mahon Tribunal: George Redmond returned to the tribunal yesterday and spent the lunch break doing press-ups.

The 79-year-old former Dublin county manager was given a temporary release from Cloverhill prison to allow him attend yesterday's hearing.

As during his first appearance on Tuesday, he was escorted to Dublin Castle by two prison guards, and collected again at the end of the day's evidence.

Under the terms of his release, he is confined to the castle, so he spent the lunch break reading documents. However, at one point, he disappeared to the end of the tribunal hall to do at least two sets of 10 press-ups.

Redmond failed to attend the tribunal on Wednesday, the day Mr Justice Feargus Flood's damning report into the finances of the former official was published, and on Thursday.

Asked to comment yesterday on Mr Justice Flood's finding that he had received four corrupt payments from developers, Redmond produced a copy of his temporary release form and pointed to one of the conditions listed, which prohibits him from talking to the media.

Redmond, who has no legal representation at the tribunal, made a number of brief interventions during yesterday's hearing. He asked for more time to study the transcripts before cross-examining the current witness, Mr Sam Stanley.

His cross-examination will now take place next week, probably on Wednesday.