The financial controller of The Irish Times applied to the High Court yesterday for an order giving him files and documents in the possession of the newspaper. These, he says, are necessary for the preparation of his case against the company in connection with his alleged redundancy. Mr Richard Gee (57), who is suing Irish Times Ltd and Irish Times Publications Ltd, claims that on April 27th, 2000, he was given 12 months' notice of termination of his position of financial controller, a post he held since 1988.
He was told the newspaper was creating a new position of chief financial officer but in reality, said Mr Tom Mallon, for Mr Gee, this was virtually the same position.
Mr Mallon said when Mr Gee was employed by the newspaper there had always been a policy of non-enforced redundancy, with the person concerned being offered either another position within the organisation or given a "package" and then leaving. His client had been offered neither.
He said Mr Gee was the first and only man to be compulsorily made redundant by The Irish Times.
He was now seeking discovery of his composite personal file and all documents relating to the company's "no enforced redundancy policy" as it applied to trade union staff, non-union personnel and senior executives. Mr Paul Sreenan SC, with Mr Michael Howard, for the two defendants, said as a result of a High Court order, Mr Gee was receiving his full salary and other benefits pending the trial of the action between the parties. However, he said there appeared no urgency on Mr Gee's part to get on with the trial.
The Irish Times did not want a very long-running case where the costs would far exceed any benefits from winning. Mr Gee was now seeking blanket discovery of documents.
He said Mr Gee was in possession of highly sensitive commercial information in his home which he had removed from The Irish Times. Despite a request to return it, he had not done so. This information was removed to oppress the defendants and so that when the case came to trial these documents would be "all over" the papers.
Mr Mallon denied such documents were in his client's home and said they were in the offices of The Irish Times.
Mr Justice Smyth said he would give his decision on the discovery application later.