Ex-telecoms worker drops High Court claim his employer 'tapped' his personal information

A HIGH COURT dispute between a telecommunications company and a former employee who claimed the firm had breached his privacy rights has been resolved.

The proceedings involved Patrick Trane, who is from France and was employed by Cubic Telecom, a south Dublin-based telecommunications technology firm, until he resigned and began working for another company.

Cubic brought proceedings against him and three companies, Simulity Systems, Simulity Labs and Card Centric, seeking to prevent him using information it alleged he had obtained as part of his employment. He counter-sued claiming his privacy rights were breached.

Trane alleged Cubic had been “tapping” his personal and family information on his company-supplied laptop using a software surveillance program called StaffCop.

He alleged the surveillance of his personal information during his employment breached a number of his rights, including rights to privacy under the Constitution and his right to a private family life under the European Convention on Human Rights. He claimed those rights derive from his contract of employment.

It was claimed that, apart from work-related information, the laptop contained other information including about his personal business outside work, banking and childrens’ schools.

No rights breached

Cubic had claimed he was using a company laptop and its use was part of his contract of employment. It denied any rights have been breached.

Even if he enjoys such rights, it claims he was using the computer for illegitimate purposes conducting non-Cubic business during company hours.

Today, Trane’s barrister said the matter was resolved and the entire proceedings could be struck out, with no order for costs and all previous orders also struck out.

Counsel told Justice Paul Gilligan that both sides were withdrawing all allegations against each other. Cubic’s lawyer said his side was consenting to the case being struck out.