The High Court ordered a former Ulster Bank employee not to use, or pass to others, confidential data which the bank claims to own. The bank yesterday secured the temporary order against Mr John Mackin, Temple View, Clare Hall, Malahide Road, Dublin.

In an affidavit, Mr Vincent Feeney, head of card products at the bank's headquarters in Belfast, said he was responsible for the bank's "merchant acquiring" business.

This was a service offered by banks whereby they processed credit card transactions on behalf of merchants. Ulster Bank viewed the confidentiality of the database of its customers in this sector as a matter of major commercial confidence.

Mr Feeney said he was satisfied from information the bank had that Mr Mackin was engaged in systematic abuse of its confidential and commercially sensitive information in relation to its customers both in the North and the Republic. Ms Justice Carroll granted the interim order sought.