Mr George Redmond had ceased to have a planning function with Dublin County Council and was engaged in seeking strategies for the disposal of refuse when he met Mr Jim Kennedy in 1980, he told the tribunal.
Mr Kennedy appeared to be successful in the way he did things, although "he was an extraordinary man for litigation". Litigation, in Mr Redmond's view, did not spell success.
Was there any reason that he had not pursued litigation himself in respect of the loans made to Mr Kennedy that had not been repaid? Mr Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, asked. "It never entered my mind. I had taken my chances. The interest over the years was generous and as I thought at the time, safe from tax."
Dublin County Council had identified tip sites at Ballyogan, Dunsink and Bohernabreena. The former assistant Dublin city and county manager recollected telling Mr Kennedy that a site at Waterstone was listed as one of the tips.
Mr Kennedy knew the owner, who was a local auctioneer. He negotiated on his behalf to sell the land to Dublin County Council.
As far as he was concerned, it was "a great coup" for him to get the land, said Mr Redmond. The council had approved it as a landfill site and it would eventually form part of the Liffey Valley Park.
It had surprised him, he added, that Mr Kennedy had succeeded in getting the land. "Not withstanding the fact that members of the council had approved it, there was war."
Had he indicated to Mr Kennedy that it was the council's intention to acquire the land beforehand?
It was widely known at the time and there had been a good deal of publicity, Mr Redmond replied.
Another deal involved the West Link development and the construction of a bridge over the Strawberry Beds, where Mr Kennedy had a house. The assistant county and city manager got a phone call on a Good Friday from Mr Kennedy to tell him that somebody was offering to buy his house and land.
Mr Redmond expressed surprise. It turned out to be Mr Tom Roche, who was promoting a scheme for the acquisition of land to do with the West Link project.
He was planning to build a bridge over the Strawberry Beds, having previously completed a similar project at Ringsend.
The Ringsend project had been done without the aid of compulsory purchase order, and Mr Roche was planning to do something similar in west Dublin. The lie of the planned route traversed Mr Kennedy's land "at a high level" and some of the fittings for the proposed bridge were also on his property.
Mr Roche then entered into an agreement with Mr Kennedy for the acquisition of the house. It was evident that a CPO would be necessary when it became clear that more than a bridge was involved. Mr Roche resolved to extend the project to the Navan Road to include the Kennedy holding.
This would involve the usual public inquiry, opportunity for objections, an appeal to the High Court and, finally, negotiations.
Mr O'Neill asked whether all this activity had not prompted Mr Redmond to seek the repayment of his loan to Mr Kennedy. He was moving out of his house, "but had to get another one", was the reply.
Had he had any contact with him for repayment of the loan?
It never occurred to him, said Mr Redmond, that Mr Kennedy would repay him out of the proceeds from the sale of the house. Mr Kennedy's marriage had broken up. He was living with a new partner.
There had been two attacks on the house and they had been "held prisoner" at gunpoint or knifepoint. "The young lady found it intolerable."
He had not wanted to sell the house. Mr Redmond could not recall what was paid for it, but the price would be modest by today's standards.
"I did not relate the sale of the house to my debt," he said.