A High Court action brought by Jerry Henchy against Dairygold Co-Operative Society, in which Henchy had claimed substantial damages, has been settled.

The case, which has been the subject of court and media reporting over recent months, was struck out by the High Court today when the parties advised Mr Justice Herbert that they had agreed a settlement of the proceedings.

Dairygold informed the court any suggestion that the reason for the termination of Henchy’s services as CEO of Dairygold was that he was engaged in wrongdoing or financial impropriety was and is without any foundation and reaffirmed that the reason for the termination of Henchy’s services as CEO was not as a result of any financial impropriety or wrongdoing on Henchy’s part.

Henchy confirmed to the court that the board of Dairygold, in coming to the decision to terminate his services as CEO, acted in good faith and without malice towards him.

The settlement of the legal proceedings involved the payment of no sum for damages to Henchy, Dairygold and Henchy agreeing not to register or execute any costs orders in their favour and Dairygold paying €196,800 (inclusive of Vat) to Henchy’s solicitors by way of a contribution towards Henchy’s legal costs.

In a statement, Dairygold chairman, Bertie O’ Leary said: “The High Court settlement, which involved the payment of no sum for damages to Henchy, has the unanimous approval of the Dairygold board. The society robustly defended its decision to terminate the Services of Jerry Henchy as CEO and is satisfied with the outcome of the case, which might well have continued for a further five or six weeks. The conclusion of the proceedings enables the board and management of the society to focus on the continued development and expansion of the business of the society.”

Reports to follow