A bitter legal row between rival Dublin radio stations FM104 and 98FM over where presenter Chris Barry should broadcast has been settled, the High Court was told yesterday.
The settlement terms were not announced and, following a brief court sitting, neither side would comment or say which station Mr Barry will broadcast with in future.
After the settlement, Mr Barry - whose real name is Mr Ciaran Gaffney - said he was bound by confidentiality.
The case has been before the High Court on several occasions at the injunction stage, and legal costs are likely to be substantial. A full hearing of three actions arising from Mr Barry's departure from FM104 in December 1997 opened on Thursday and was expected to last for several days.
Following prolonged discussions between the various legal teams until lunchtime yesterday, Mr Ercus Stewart SC, for Capital Radio Productions Ltd, trading as FM104, told Ms Justice Laffoy the sides had reached an amicable settlement and all the actions could be struck out with no order.
Mr John Gordon SC, for Mr Gaffney, of Luttrell Park Close, Castleknock, Dublin, said he was happy to tell the court that matters were fully settled. Mr Joseph Finnegan SC, for 98FM, consented.
During the hearing, it was claimed Mr Barry had a contract to broadcast on FM104 until next January but had ceased broadcasting with that station last November. FM104 claimed he was poached by 98FM with a promise of £90,000 salary and £50,000 legal expenses. 98FM denied that claim.
Mr Barry denied he and his company, Pavilion Company Ltd, of Luttrell Park Close, Castleknock, Dublin, had a written contract with FM104 of June 11th, 1996, and in his own proceedings against FM104 sought to overturn an "agreement" of that date.