Mr George Redmond, the former assistant city and county manager for Dublin, has been granted free legal aid for a trial scheduled to start on December 1st at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Desmond Hogan noted gardaí were satisfied a statement of means provided on behalf of Mr Redmond gave an accurate account of his means at this time and said he was satisfied free legal aid should be allowed. The trial concerns an allegation of corruption relating to the purchase of land by Dublin County Council at Buzzardstown.
Mr Brendan Grehan SC, for Mr Redmond (79), submitted his client had funded two previous court cases and had also some years ago made a settlement of about €1 million with the Revenue Commissioners.
Mr Grehan said the statement of means provided showed Mr Redmond and his wife had substantial outgoings on the house in which they now lived and they both relied on his pension.
A further application, supported also by prosecuting counsel Mr Patrick J. McCarthy SC, on what he described as "humanitarian grounds", to have the trial changed to a later date was adjourned by Judge Hogan.
Mr Grehan said Mr Redmond was due to go into hospital on December 3rd for surgery and was a public patient. He had an ongoing health problem and had lost a stone in weight in recent months.
There would also be a preliminary application that might take five days and the "fade factor" arising out of all the recent publicity had also to be taken into consideration.
An application by Mr McCarthy for permission to cancel his witnesses was refused by Judge Hogan, who said he was anxious if at all possible to have the trial proceed as scheduled.