Row between company and former CEO settled

A dispute between a company and its former CEO who denied accusations of threatening to publicly divulge personal details of Vodafone customers unless paid €135,000 has been settled.

Marketing consults Madcalm Ltd, Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon, brought proceedings against its former CEO and 20% shareholder Mr Sean McGrath who it claimed had tried to extort money from it by threatening to divulge names, addresses and bank details of Vodafone costumers.

Madcalm provides consultancy marketing services to telecommunications companies, particularly mobile phone operators to assist them in acquiring and retaining customers.

It obtained a temporary High Court injunction preventing Mr McGrath from disseminating any confidential information by any means to any third party. Mr McGrath was also restrained from threatening, approaching or communicating with any official of Madcalm or its clients.

Mr McGrath denied the accusations and said the company’s allegations against him were “untrue and outrageous”. Mr McGrath also said he had no confidential information of the kind suggested by Madcalm.

Mr McGrath’s lawyers had told the court he would seek to have the injunction discharged.

The matter returned before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan at the High Court yesterday. The judge was told by Brian Conroy BL for Madcalm the matter had been resolved between the parties.

Counsel said the injunction could be vacated and the proceedings struck out. No details of the settlement were revealed in open court.

Mr McGrath, who had rejected what were very serious accusations against him, said he had no confidential information belonging to the company.