A film director hired to document the adventures of a lone horseman's trek across Mexico was dumped without being told by Emdee Productions, the Circuit Court has held.
Judge Hogan said it was "disingenuous" of Dublin-based Emdee Productions Ltd to have fired director Mr John O'Donnell without having had the courtesy of telling him.
Awarding Mr O'Donnell, of Cowper Downs, Rathmines, Dublin, £12,400 damages for breach of contract, Judge Hogan said he had been left in the unenviable position of finding out for himself he been dropped from the production and replaced.
Mr Paul Burns, for the prosecution, said Mr O'Donnell had been contracted to script and direct Tschiffley's Ride, the story of one man journeying with two horses across Mexico. Mr Burns said Mr O'Donnell had researched all aspects of the project, including a complete reconnaissance of Tschiffley's route.
The project had been shelved and payment refused on the basis that Mr O'Donnell had allegedly accepted the assignment on a "no foal, no fee" basis.