George Redmond was fined £7,500 last month for failing to make tax returns over 10 years. For a man described by his lawyers as ruined, effectively destitute and in bad health, the court case was, even so, only the beginning.
The 75-year-old former Dublin assistant city and county manager faces questions at the tribunal about his dealings with property developers, builders and politicians, and the circumstances surrounding the sums, described by the tribunal as an "extraordinary number of payments", he received over 20 years.
Clearly, Mr Redmond could impart a great deal of information. His job placed him at the hub of all planning activities in Co Dublin: he had information and power. He was in close contact with senior government figures during the 1970s and 1980s and had knowledge of the circumstances surrounding events such as the rezoning of Quarryvale.
Given what has been alleged about Quarryvale by Frank Dunlop, if Mr Redmond decided to reveal all he knew it could potentially have further serious political and business implications.
In September the tribunal asked the question repeatedly, but got nowhere. Where did the money come from? Asked how in 1988 he accumulated a bank balance of £660,000 when his annual gross salary was £29,000, and take-home pay £19,000, Mr Redmond replied he was a "very heavy saver".
He said he had done nothing unlawful and made investments of various sorts. Apart from that, he couldn't remember. He explained the sums were for advice and unsolicited.
But the scale of the private payments to Mr Redmond began to emerge, and informed sources indicated the total he received during his career in planning and county management could run into millions. Mr Redmond at that point had only declared to the tribunal eight of his 33 bank accounts, but towards the end of last year he produced a sworn statement of all his accounts and bank details. The tribunal has also received the Criminal Assets Bureau documents seized from Mr Redmond.
Today, Mr Redmond is likely to be led through his statement to the tribunal and questioned on the sums involved. These could include details of payments, in particular those he received from a leading builder and a councillor, both deceased.
So far, Mr Redmond has said he got £25,000 from James Gogarty of JMSE for introducing him to developer Michael Bailey. This varies from Mr Gogarty's version.
There was also a £10,000 personal "thank you" from Tom Roche snr of National Toll Roads plc, allegedly paid to Mr Redmond for his help in advancing the West Link Bridge project.
The tribunal heard from Tom Brennan, a builder, who alleged he would bet his own money on tips at races, then pay the winnings to Mr Redmond. This arrangement netted Mr Redmond up to £50,000.
Mr Redmond was charged with 10 counts of failing to make tax returns between 1988 and 1998.
This arose from his arrest in February 1999 at Dublin Airport when he was discovered with a holdall containing £286,000 in cash and stockbrokers' cheques. He had arrived from the Isle of Man and was intercepted by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau.
On April 7th last, he appeared again and his lawyers told the court he was now "effectively destitute" after paying the Revenue Commissioners £782,000 in tax, interest and penalties.
The following week, he was fined £7,500. The judge had noted the submission made about his circumstances and bad health.
A decade after his retirement from his job with the local authority, he has had to sell his house in Castleknock. He sold it for £750,000, but this would not even cover his Revenue bill. Mr Redmond's appearance today could merely involve a trawl through bank records.
According to one source, there were "different views" as to whether he has in fact at this stage co-operated with the tribunal team.