More than 20 aircraft engineers, who claim they were negligently exposed to poisonous gases, are suing Team Aer Lingus and a pest control company for damages for personal injuries.
The Dublin Circuit Civil Court has been told the men allege they were directed to work on a Boeing 727, which had previously been fumigated by Ridall Pest Control Ltd, Sandyhill Avenue, Ballymun, Dublin.
They claim they were exposed to methyl bromide, a disinfecting agent used to fumigate the aircraft's cargo hold.
Ms Collette Kinsley, for aircraft engineer Mr Peter Quigley, Redford Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow, and Mr Richard McDonnell, and who represents another group of plaintiffs, sought to have struck out the defences filed by Team Aer Lingus and Ridall Pest Control.
Ms Kinsley said the court had ordered both defendants last November to make discovery of documentation relating to aircraft fumigation by the use of methyl bromide and both had failed to do so. Judge White granted a further three weeks for discovery to be made.