Deleted Confidential Records... And, Um, Porn

He says he didn't mean to do it... but in the wake of a federal court ruling that he destroyed hundreds of pages of confidential records, on Tuesday Peter Murnane was canned from his job as Chief Financial Officer for Mesa Air Group.

Murnane, who has been on leave since September, was a key figure in a legal battle between Mesa and Hawaiian Airlines, stemming from Mesa's misuse of confidential information it obtained from Hawaiian during the latter's bankruptcy proceedings.

As ANN reported last week, US Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Faris ruled Mesa used that information to launch its own "go!" regional airline in Hawaii. Mesa was ordered to pay $80 million in damages, though Mesa says it plans to appeal the verdict.

In his ruling, Faris also determined Murnane destroyed the very records that would have shown Mesa used data it obtained through unscrupulous means.

Mesa attempted to stand up for the embattled CFO... by saying Murnane had meant to only delete pornographic material from his work computers, reports The Honolulu Advertiser.

The paper couldn't reach Murnane, but did speak with his attorney, Brook Hart... who called the events "unfortunate," adding Murnane regrets his actions.

FMI: www.mesa-air.com