Court order restrains pickets in sub-contracting dispute

A continuing dispute over the use of sub-contractors on building sites led yesterday to the High Court granting an interim order restraining pickets on three sites in Dublin and Kildare.

The order was granted to Collen Construction Ltd against the Building and Allied Trades Union, its regional organiser, Mr Dennis Farrell and all others aware of the making of the order.

Seeking the order, which is returnable to Monday next, Mr Roddy Horan, for Collen, indicated that his client would be seeking the committal to prison of any persons who continued to breach the orders. The company may also apply to sequester the assets of BATU.

Counsel said undertakings had been given by BATU and Mr Farrell last Monday that they would not trespass on or picket his client's sites at Park Motors, North Circular Road, Dublin; Tolka Valley Road, Finglas; and Clane Road, Celbridge.

Collen is engaged in construction of service and workshop facilities at Park Motors, dwellings and a community centre at Tolka Valley Road and a primary school at Clane. The total value of the contracts is €15 million, the court has heard

Despite the undertakings, the court was yesterday told, in an affidavit by Mr Leo Crehan, a director of Collen, that the entrance to the site at Park Motors was blocked yesterday morning by some 25-30 persons, some of whom had been involved in two previous pickets. None was an employee of Collen. The action had affected the business of both Collen and Park Motors. Mr Horan said those protesting at the site had associated themselves with BATU but had said the action was not official.