The former financial controller of Irish Times Limited who was suing the newspaper for damages in connection with the circumstances of his departure from the company has settled his action against it, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.
No indication was given of terms of the settlement.
Mr Richard Gee (57), a father of two, who was an employee with the newspaper since 1982, sued Irish Times Limited and Irish Times Publications Limited.
He claimed that on April 27th, 2000, he was given 12 months' notice of termination of his position as financial controller - a post he had held with the newspaper since 1988. He was told a new position of chief financial officer was being created, but, he argued, this was virtually the same position he held.
When the matter first came before the court in June last year, Irish Times Limited, through its counsel, Mr Paul Sreenan SC, said it acknowledged that Mr Gee had been a loyal servant of the company and indicated it wished to treat him generously in a situation of redundancy.
Since proceedings began, Mr Gee has been in receipt of full payment of his salary and other benefits pending the trial of the action between the parties. The Supreme Court was due to deliver a judgment yesterday on an appeal by Mr Gee on a discovery matter. But before the court delivered its judgment, Mr Michael Howard, for the newspaper, said the action between the parties had been resolved. The paper wanted to wish Mr Gee well in his pursuits, added counsel.
Ms Karen Irwin, group general counsel and director of Irish Times Limited, speaking later on behalf of the managing director, Mr Nick Chapman, said that part of the agreement was that the terms of the settlement were confidential. There would be no further comment.
One of Mr Gee's legal team last night said he could not disclose anything about the settlement as it included a confidentiality clause.