A businessman accused of making corrupt payments to local politicians in Dublin in the 1990s has told a court that he did not know any of the councillors in question.

James Kennedy of Cormorant Way, Queens Quay in Gibraltar has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges of corruptly giving money to members of Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on dates in 1992 and 1997 in exchange for votes in favour of motions to have lands in Carrickmines zoned for industrial use.

When the charges had all been read out, the businessman spoke from the dock at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and said: 'could I have it recorded that I did not know any of those councillors nor have I ever met them in my life'.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor Tony Fox of Mountainview Park, Churchtown, along with former politicians Colm Mc Grath of Swiftwood, Saggart, Donal Lydon of Santo Antonio, Stillorgan Park Avenue and Liam Cosgrave of Merrion Park, Blackrock - all in Dublin - are also being tried for allegedly receiving corrupt payments on dates in 1992 and 1997. They deny the charges.

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of the 5 men which will get underway later this week.

It is expected to last about 4 weeks.