The former Dublin assistant city and county manager, Mr George Redmond, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption in office.
Mr Redmond (78), replied "No, I'm not guilty" when the charges were read to him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The charges alleged that while an agent or servant of a public body he received and corruptly accepted "a gift of money" on a date unknown between June 1st, 1987 and May 31st, 1998, as an inducement or reward in relation to the sale of a right of way at Palmerstown, Co Dublin.
The trial is in legal argument before Judge Michael White and is expected to last 14 days.