Case involving alleged spy now focusing on where payment to him came from

Keith O'Brien, who destroyed a phone containing information the court ordered him to preserve, did not know exactly who was behind a payment to him, court heard

It is alleged Keith O'Brien, of Ringfort Avenue, Balrothery, Co Dublin, was placed in Rippling in order to unlawfully obtain its trade secrets for rival HR firm Deel.

Investigations into the activities of an Irish payroll manager alleged to have passed trade secrets from his own firm to a rival are focusing on where a payment to the manager came from, the Commercial Court heard.

Keith O'Brien, who initially destroyed a phone containing information the court ordered him to preserve, has now fully engaged and cooperated with the investigation, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was also told on Monday.