Order against former Sunday World journalist 'sour grapes', court hears

A temporary High Court order obtained by the Sunday World preventing journalist Paul Williams from working for any other publication is a case of "sour grapes", the High Court heard today.

The newspaper secured the order last Friday afternoon following the announcement that Mr Williams is to move to the rival publication 'The News of the World' newspaper.

Today at the High Court Mr Justice Roderick Murphy agreed to adjourn the matter to Friday of this week to allow both sides furnish affidavits. Under the terms of the order the Journalist is prevented from working in for any other publication other than the Sunday World.

The order is to stay in place until the matter is back before the court. The hearing of the matter is expected to last a day.

In its proceedings, the Sunday World claims that Mr Williams, under the provisions of the National Union of Journalist's House Agreement, which covered the journalist's position as crime editor, is obliged to serve a period of three months' notice.

Seeking to have the matter put back John Gordon SC for Mr Williams, in rejecting the Sunday World's claims, told the court that the newspaper's contention that his client was obliged to serve a notice period was "impermissible."

Counsel said that the Sunday World's proceedings in light of Mr Williams decision to move to a rival publication News of the World was a case of "sour grapes", and was anticompetitive.

Last Friday Ms Justice Mary Laffoy granted the Sunday World an injunction on the grounds that there was a fair issue to be tried and that the balance of convenience favoured the making of the order.

In papers put to the court under an agreement between Mr Williams and the newspaper in November 2006 the journalist was to receive an annual salary of €145,000 (€164,803) under various terms and conditions to increase by 2.5% in January 2008 and 2009. He was also to received additional payments for promotional work.

That contract was to run from January 2007 and was due to expire on January 12 2010. The court heard that Mr Williams, who has been a reporter with the newspaper since 1988, informed the managing director of the Sunday World Mr Gerry Lennon that he did not wish to renew his contract.

On January 14 last, the court heard that Mr Williams informed Mr Lennon of his intention to leave his position of crime editor of the paper and work for the News of the World.