A decision to end security at former kidnap victim Mr Don Tidey's home and a consequent dispute over redundancy payments for some of those who had provided that security led yesterday to High Court proceedings taken by Mr Tidey.
Mr Tidey, with an address at Glenageary, Dublin, secured an interim order restraining picketing of his home by three persons who had provided security there. The court heard no pickets had been placed to date but Mr Tidey was apprehensive these would be placed.
Mr Tidey, a senior supermarket executive, was kidnapped by an IRA gang in November 1983, and was held for 23 days before his release. His kidnapping sparked a nationwide search which led to a shoot-out at Derrada Wood, near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, during which a trainee garda and a member of the Defence Forces were killed.
In court yesterday, Mr Tom Mallon said he was seeking an interim order because of an apprehension by Mr Tidey that pickets would be placed at his home.
In an affidavit, Mr Tidey said he was employed by Power Supermarkets, trading as Quinnsworth, between 1969 and 1998. In 1997, Quinnsworth was bought by Tesco plc and the company now traded as Tesco Ireland. In 1983, his then employer, in order to protect his personal safety, had arranged for security to be provided at his home.
About June 1998, he had retired from the supermarket business.
In the recent past, the personal security of himself and his family had been provided by Tesco Ireland in the form of five of their employees. He believed all five were members of the Mandate trade union.
With his agreement, it was decided the security presence was no longer required and the five employees who had provided it were informed in May last of the intention to withdraw the security.
An agreement was reached with two of the five regarding redundancy payments but the matter regarding the remaining three was before the Labour Court for determination.
Mr Tidey said he had been told, following talks between Tesco and Mandate yesterday, that the union's intention was to place pickets on his home. He had sought an undertaking from Mandate that picketing would not take place but had not, at the time of swearing his affidavit, received any such undertaking.
Mr Justice Murphy said he would grant an interim order restraining picketing of Mr Tidey's home and returned the matter to Monday next.
