DUBLIN, Ireland: The DAA board said that its chief executive, Kenny Jacobs, has been suspended with full pay, and announced a new investigation into his conduct after months of turmoil in the company's airports group.

The move late on December 23 raises the possibility that Jacobs will approach the High Court to block his suspension from the operator of Dublin and Cork airports.

The suspension came after the DAA board agreed with a recommendation from a smaller board group led by Mark James Ryan, a DAA worker-director.

Ryan is a member of the Siptu union and also chairs the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' national worker director group.

DAA chairman Basil Geoghegan and senior independent director Risteard Sheridan were not part of Ryan's group.

Geoghegan, a businessman, played a key role in handling the dispute between the board and Jacobs.

Sheridan had earlier led another group that looked into the original complaints against Jacobs and appointed Connaughton.

The DAA plc, previously the Dublin Airport Authority, is a commercial semi-state airport company that owns and operates the Dublin and Cork airports.