The board of Kenmare Resources has called an extraordinary general meeting (egm) to remove its deputy chairman Donal Kinsella as a member of its board.

It is the latest move in a worsening of relationships between Mr Kinsella and the rest of the board following an incident at Kenmare's titanium mine in Mozambique on the night of May 8th last.

The board had travelled to Mozambique for a celebratory dinner to mark the opening of the mine. Following dinner, at which alcohol was served, the visitors retired to the mine's accommodation block.

Mr Kinsella left his room some time after 2am on May 9th. He said he was sleepwalking at the time.

In the following three hours, he went to the room of company secretary Deirdre Corcoran three times. An inquiry by Kenmare's solicitors, O'Donnell Sweeney Eversheds, heard that Mr Kinsella opened the door and was visible in a naked state from the room.

As a result of that inquiry, Mr Kinsella was removed as chairman of Kenmare's audit committee, a role that involved working closely with Ms Corcoran.

In a statement released yesterday, he said a press release issued on July 10th arising out of that inquiry "was a grossly unfair attempt at character assassination".

Mr Kinsella is calling on shareholders to vote against the resolution to remove him because he says it "is designed to protect the positions of certain members of the board".

Mr Kinsella subsequently initiated High Court proceedings against Kenmare and its chairman, Charles Carvill.

In a letter accompanying the notice of the egm, which was distributed yesterday, Mr Carvill said the legal action and other accusations by Mr Kinsella made it impossible for him to continue as a director.

Mr Kinsella has been a director of Kenmare for over 20 years and Mr Carvill said the decision to propose his removal from the board was not taken lightly.

The egm will be held on November 9th at 10am in The Westin Hotel, Dublin.