A "LOVE-BOMB" with a 2 1/2 year timer was defused on the steps of the High Court yesterday, as Esat Telecom created yet another multimillionaire.
Two days after British Telecom paid £1.9 billion for the Irish firm, Esat paid a disgruntled former employee about £4 million.
Without ever appearing on the company's list of shareholders, Mr Dan Rogers (47) joined the ranks of Esat employees whose bank balances will soon see some extra zeros. However, unlike the company's chairman and chief executive, Mr Denis O'Brien, who will pocket an estimated £230 million, and other senior management, Mr Rogers's retirement will not be filled with happy memories of his time at Esat.
A telecommunications specialist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mr Rogers told the court earlier this week he was "love-bombed" by Mr O'Brien for more than a year in an effort to have him relocate to Ireland. He claimed the Esat boss promised to make the Rogers family very rich.
In May 1997 he succumbed, but by March 1998 love was on the last train out of town. Sacked for what Esat said was "poor performance", Mr Rogers decided to sue his suitor.
In court this week he claimed that under an agreement with Mr O'Brien, he was offered, and was entitled to, 1 per cent of the equity in Esat. On BT's valuation this would come to a mere £19 million. He would have exercised his 1 per cent share option, he added, except that he had been fired.
But yesterday outside the court Esat and Mr Rogers agreed an "amicable" deal, said to be around £4 million.
Mr Justice McCracken said he was glad that common sense had prevailed. The beaming Iowan, accompanied by his wife, Marsha, said he was delighted that the issued had been resolved. "We have some serious celebrating to do," he said.