Ousted hospital chief engineer Neil Crane has settled with the Bermuda Hospitals Board, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The former facilities manager at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital resigned in October and his lawyer, Juliana Jack, called a reported payout of $75,000 "full and thorough'' vindication of her client's position.

She also said the settlement showed there was no justification for wrongful dismissal by the BHB.

The settlement is the equal of all amounts Mr. Crane claimed against the board in addition to his legal costs at Mello, Jones and Martin.

But Mr. Crane is still refusing to comment on his libel claim against Bermuda Broadcasting Company for their television news report on October 26, which stated that he was fired -- while noting the board called it a resignation. On November 5, ZBM news director Darlene Ming, in an on-air apology, accepted there were no grounds for the report which claimed hospital sources said Mr.

Crane was fired for misconduct.

Mrs. Jack hinted the libel case would be concluded "in the not too distant future'' and her client would make a public statement then.

BHB Chairman Raymonde Dill said last night: "Since Mr. Crane's resignation, there has been considerable discussion between the Board and Mr. Crane via lawyers relating to issues and a possible settlement.

"The Board finally agreed that in the interests of all parties, notwithstanding there are unresolved issues which could not be resolved, the Board agreed to settle out of court,'' he added.

"The hospital management and the Board can now rightfully put all of their attention to the delivery of quality health care,'' Mr. Dill concluded.