The trial of five men accused of giving or receiving corrupt payments in exchange for voting in favour of land rezoning in South Dublin in the 1990s is now underway before a jury.
Businessman James Kennedy with an address in, Queens Quay, Gibraltar is charged with making 16 corrupt payments to politicians at a number of locations including Conway’s Pub, Buswell’s Hotel, the Davenport Hotel and the offices of Frank Dunlop in Dublin.
Former Dublin County councillors Colm McGrath of Swiftwood, Saggart, Donal Lydon of Stillorgan Park avenue and Liam Cosgrave of Merrion Park, Blackrock deny allegations that they received corrupt payments for voting in favour of rezoning lands at Carrickmines.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown county councillor Tony Fox has also pleaded not guilty to 5 charges of receiving corrupt payments.
It took 20 minutes for the 28 charges to be read out at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this afternoon.
The prosecution is now opening its case to the jury.
