The Sunday World newspaper has secured a temporary High Court order preventing its crime editor Paul Williams working for any other publication after claiming Mr Williams’ planned move to the rival News of The World will cause “imeasurable damage” to its sales and he had failed to give the alleged required notice.
The newspaper sought the order today following the announcement Mr Williams is moving to the News of the World on 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 today granted Sunday Newspapers Limited an interim injunction, returnable to Monday next, preventing Mr 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.
The judge said the Sunday World had established a fair issue to be tried between the sides related to its arguments on notice. She also ruled damages would not be an adequate remedy for the newspaper and the balance of convenience favoured grating the interim order.
She noted the Sunday World will pay Mr Williams his salary entitlements and any additional monies he would have received from the News of the World and also granted him liberty to apply to vary or discharge the order.
Mark Connaughton SC, for Sunday Newspapers, said his client contended, under the provisions of the National Union of Journalists house agreement which covered Mr Williams’s position as crime editor, he was obliged to serve three months' notice.
Counsel said Mr Williams informed Gerry Lennon, managing director of the Sunday World, on January 14th last of his intention to leave his position and to work for the News of the World. Mr Williams, a reporter with the newspaper since 1988, had said he did not wish to renew his contract.
Mr Connaughton said lawyers for Mr 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, and was therefore entitled to move to another publication.
Counsel said it was disputed Mr Williams was working under a fixed term contract. A communication by Mr Williams’ to Mr Lennon in October last in which he stated he did not intend to renew his contract did not amount to giving notice, he argued.
In an affidavit, Mr Lennon said he was taken aback by Mr Williams's decision to leave the Sunday World and had at no time received notice from Mr Williams.
Mr Williams had sent him an email saying leaving the Sunday World was "the hardest decision" he had ever made and paying tribute to the staff at the paper. A statement had been issued by the News of the World stating Mr Williams would be moving to the paper which would cause "immeasurable damage" to sales of the Sunday World.
Mr Lennon said the Sunday World plans its advertisement campaigns three to six months in advance. Mr Williams was to be involved in six to seven key television adverts over the next three months. The newspaper had also provided security measures for Mr Williams in recognition of his position as crime editor, Mr Lennon added.