Irishman 'passed confidential info to rival in James Bond-like plot'

AN IRISH payroll manager received €5,000 a month to pass information from a firm to a rival company in a scheme likened to James Bond, the High Court has heard.

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In a sworn statement to the court, opened before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey yesteday, Keith O'Brien said that while working for US-headquartered HR firm Rippling he passed "a lot" of confidential information to the chief executive of rival firm Deel, Alex Bouaziz.

Mr O'Brien, of Ringford Avenue, Balrothery, Dublin, said that in and around September 2024, Mr Bouaziz, a French citizen, suggested he "become a spy" in return for a reward.

Mr O'Brien and Mr Bouaziz had previously connected on Linkedin after Mr O'Brien applied for a job at Deel. "I recall him specifically mentioning James Bond," Mr O'Brien said, after the Dubliner said he was considering leaving his job at Rippling.

Mr O'Brien accepted Mr Bouaziz's offer, he said. Mr O'Brien was told he'd be paid €5,000 a month for "spying".

"I understood what Alex was asking me to do was wrong, and I believe he knew it was wrong too," Mr O'Brien said.