A long-running dispute between the board of the Dublin Simon Community and its former chief executive Greg Maxwell has been resolved following a private financial settlement.
The charity for the homeless had been at the centre of a bitter row after the board's dismissal of Mr Maxwell in July 2004.
Mr Maxwell said he was unfairly dismissed and his case was due to come before the Employment Appeals Tribunal later this month. However, following talks between Mr Maxwell and the board of Dublin Simon, The Irish Times has learned that a severance package was agreed in recent days.
Dublin Simon will today formally begin the process of seeking a permanent chief executive to replace Mr Maxwell.
The charity, which received €9 million in State funding last year, declined to say how much the settlement entailed.
Asked whether charitable donations to Simon were used to fund the severance package, the board's interim chief executive, Sam McGuinness, said a contingency fund had been used to finance the settlement.
Mr Maxwell and Dublin Simon said in a joint statement that both sides had agreed to resolve their differences in the best interests of the voluntary organisation.
The statement added: "The board of the Dublin Simon Community acknowledges that since his appointment as chief executive officer in 1995, Mr Maxwell has made a major contribution.
"The community has developed to the point where it is at its strongest ever, and the range of services provided are acknowledged as being both comprehensive and of the highest quality.
"An appropriate severance package has been agreed in recognition of Mr Maxwell's nine-year tenure and service to the community as chief executive.
"The board regrets any distress suffered by Mr Maxwell and his family over his departure from the community and wishes him well in the future. Mr Maxwell also wishes the Dublin Simon Community well."
Dublin Simon - which has more than 100 staff and 200 volunteers - hopes the resolution of the dispute will send out a signal that a period of division and infighting within the organisation is over.
Mr Maxwell had been told by the board last year that he did not have the set of skills needed to lead the organisation into the future. However, his supporters argued that the charity had flourished under his nine-year stewardship.
Since Mr Maxwell's dismissal last July, the acrimony became public when the board of Dublin Simon resigned following a vote of no confidence. A new 12-member board was elected in April.
Mr McGuinness said the new board was working "very well" and was drawing up strategic plans for the future development of the organisation.
"We're moving on, everyone is pleased that the situation has been resolved. It's seen as a positive development by staff, volunteers and service users," he said.
"The board is working very well and getting down to issues, and it gives Greg an opportunity to move on with his career. It's a win-win situation.
"I'm appreciative and thankful to everyone who has helped us."
