DOCUMENTS SUPPLIED to the High Court last week as part of Karl Brophy’s legal action relating to his dismissal from Independent News Media as director of corporate affairs and content development provide interesting background to his appointment.

In an email to INM’s then chief executive Gavin O’Reilly, dated November 8th, 2010, Brophy outlined his “five primary functions”.

The first was communications. “This, obviously, will include aggressively but intelligently taking strategic and tactical control of the communications battle surrounding certain shareholders,” he added in a thinly-veiled reference to Denis O’Brien. A second was to manage interaction with “key decision makers”, while the third related to editorial. “I would see myself being involved in relatively non-contentious editorial matters like talent identification and rotation in the early stages.”

Online was a fourth area, and counsel and support the fifth. “I’m very keen to learn some of the abundant skills you possess,” he added.

He also gave a frank analysis of INM’s PR agency support.

“Pat Walsh is very good at running his agency but I wouldn’t ever envisage myself calling him for advice on communications or public affairs at all.”

“I respect Rory but he’s far less useful now that the [London] Indy has been sold. His contacts in Ireland are no better than mine and he relies predominantly on the Sunday Times and I’m well enough connected there in any case.” Ouch.