THE SUNDAY Worldnewspaper has secured a temporary High Court order preventing its crime editor Paul Williams working for any other publication.
The paper claimed Williams's planned move to the rival News of The Worldwould cause "immeasurable damage" to its sales and that he had failed to give the alleged required notice.
The Sunday Worldsought the order yesterday following the announcement Williams is moving to the News of the Worldon a salary reported to be €250,000 a year.
He had been employed under a three-year contract with the Sunday World, dating from January 2007 and due to expire on January 12th, 2010, on a salary of €145,000 a year, to increase by 2.5 per cent in 2008 and 2009, plus additional payments related to promotional activities.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday granted Sunday Newspapers Limited an interim injunction, returnable to Monday next, preventing Williams working for any publication other than the Sunday World. She made the order on the basis of an ex-parte (one side only) application.
Mark Connaughton, for Sunday Newspapers, said his client contended, under the provisions of the National Union of Journalists House Agreement which covered Williams’s position as crime editor, he was obliged to serve three months’ notice.
Counsel said Williams informed Gerry Lennon, managing director of the Sunday World, on January 14th of his intention to leave his position and to work for the News of the World. Williams, a reporter with the newspaper since 1988, had said he did not wish to renew his contract.
Mr Connaughton said lawyers for Williams had said the three months’ notice did not arise because he was working under a fixed-term contract, which had expired earlier this week. Counsel said it was disputed Williams was working under such a contract.