THE students' union in Maynooth College returns to the District Court today in the hope that the ongoing dispute which has threatened the future of the student bar will be resolved.

The dispute was sparked off when a local man sought, an injunction against the bar after he claimed that its activities were a breach of the peace. Following proposals, made to the plaintiff to address his complaints, it was agreed that he would not object to the renewal of the bar's licence application in September.

An objection was then made to the renewal of the bar licence by the Garda inspector in Naas District, at least partly at the self confessed "prodding" of Judge John Brophy, who was hearing the renewal application.

In the meantime, the college had formalised the proposals made to the original plaintiff but the union objected to what they felt was unwarranted college interference in the running of the student bar.

Judge Brophy deferred his decision on the renewal until an agreement was reached between the college and the union, although he warned that if no such agreement was forthcoming he would refuse the application.

A resolution now appears to have been reached, following a series of student protests to the college authorities. According to Maynooth students' union president Gerard Griffin, the union and the college are now back on good and "frank" terms and a general frame work has been agreed for the running of the bar.

The renewal of the bar licence may yet be dependent on a hearing regarding the original injunction, to be heard in the circuit court on November 20th.

The union has indicated that it is prepared to go to the High Court if further problems arise, since it has loan repayments of around £85,000 per year to make on the bar. "We can't afford to get closed down," as Griffin puts it.