Seventeen building workers who were arrested by gardaí during a protest at a Dublin construction site yesterday were released by the High Court last evening after a judge ordered them to pay €250 each. Following a collection, €4,250 was paid into court.
The sum was paid in after a whip-round among 100 workers who had attended the court in support of those arrested.
Last November, the High Court granted an order to Collen Construction Ltd against the Building and Allied Trades Union and anyone aware of the order restraining picketing on three sites in Dublin and Kildare.
Yesterday, it was stated that protests had resumed last week at one of the sites, at Park Motors, North Circular Road, Dublin, and were continuing yesterday. Gardaí had arrested the 17 workers, who had come from other sites, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Mr Roddy Horan, for the company, said at the conclusion of yesterday's hearing that at that time, 20 other individuals were at the Park Motors site and causing chaos.
After a daylong hearing, Mr Justice Smyth had indicated that those arrested would be released on payment by each of them of €250 or, alternatively, an undertaking that BATU would pay €4,950 by 11 a.m today.
During an adjournment of the court, the money was collected. Notes and coins were gathered and counted in court before Mr Justice Smyth returned to the bench to be told that the total of €4,250 had been discharged and paid to the court registrar.
Earlier, each of the 17 individuals had gone into the witness box and given undertakings not to breach the court's order and apologising for the contempt.
Last November, the High Court granted an order to Collen Construction Ltd against BATU and anyone aware of the order restraining picketing on three sites in Dublin and Kildare.
During the lunchtime adjournment of yesterday's hearing, more than 100 workers packed into the court. Gardaí asked them to remain outside which they did. A small number were then allowed inside for the hearing. There was cheering and clapping outside the courtroom.
When Mr Justice Smyth resumed the hearing, he said he wanted it to be clearly understood that "this is not a theatrical performance or political meeting" and no amount of shouting, noise or roaring would deflect him from doing his duty, "whatever way it goes".
Mr Horan said the protest at the site was having a serious effect on the construction programme while customers could not get in or out while the pickets were in place. He said his clients were not interested in jailing those allegedly in contempt but was seeking to have the business run in an orderly fashion.
Mr Patrick O'Connell, for the defendants, said his clients wished to apologise. They had genuine and reasonable concerns about various conditions within the building industry.
Costs of the proceedings were reserved.