Redmond claims he is being 'stitched up'

Mahon Tribunal: The former assistant Dublin city and county manager, Mr George Redmond, has claimed he is being "stitched up" by the tribunal judges.

Judge Gerald Keys rejected his claim, saying Mr Redmond was "running away" from the evidence and avoiding the questions that were put to him.

The exchange arose over previous evidence given by Mr Jude Campion, a former employee in the amusement arcade run by businessman Mr Jim Kennedy.

Mr Campion told the tribunal how Mr Kennedy had boasted that he had secured a huge compensation deal from Dublin county council on foot of a rejected planning application. At the time, Mr Redmond was assistant county manager.

Mr Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, said that in 1985, Mr Kennedy's company, 85 Developments, bought land in Portrane for £150,000. Bord Pleanála refused his application to build hundreds of houses on the site

However, Mr Kennedy sued and in 1989, the High Court awarded his company £2.11 million in compensation. Mr O'Neill said that although the Supreme Court later overturned this judgment in 1992, this meant that Mr Kennedy could have boasted about the compensation award in 1989, as Mr Campion had alleged.

Asked repeatedly about the matter, Mr Redmond stressed the council had never made any payment. He didn't think Mr Kennedy had a "reasonable expectation" of getting the compensation, because the Supreme Court would decide the matter ultimately.

"It's like somebody running a hurdle race and they got through eight or nine of the hurdles, and they've got two more to go. You're trying to contrive something." "This is just not so," Judge Keys exclaimed, and repeated Mr Campion's evidence.

"I'm being stitched up. That's why you're trying to say," Mr Redmond said.

"Who do you say is stitching you up," Judge Keys asked.

"You," Mr Redmond replied.

"Mr Redmond, you are running away from the evidence, so you are," said Judge Keys.

Mr Redmond: "I'm not".

"You are ignoring the evidence and you're avoiding answering the questions which Mr O'Neill is putting to you," the judge said.

Judge Keys said Mr Campion's evidence showed it was possible Mr Kennedy had boasted about getting compensation again.

Mr Redmond asked the judge to say which was the first occasion on which Mr Kennedy had obtained compensation.

"You know very well," Judge Keys replied.

Mr Redmond said it was "disgraceful" for the judge to address him in that form.

Judge Keys said the witness had been asked a question and hadn't answered it. Now he was "starting off again" without answering directly.

Later, when answering his own written questions, Mr Redmond denied that he had any interest in the Carrickmines land currently under investigation by the tribunal. He said he hadn't spoken to a single county councillor or TD since his retirement in 1989, nor had he spoken to Mr Kennedy or the latter's business associate, Mr John Caldwell.