Three unemployed bricklayers who refused to stop picketing a Dublin building site were sent to jail by a High Court judge yesterday after a construction company applied for orders for their committal to prison.
The men have claimed they had unsuccessfully sought work at the site owned by Collen Construction Ltd at Ballybrack and all three told the court yesterday they would continue to picket the site.
Counsel for Collen said the company would have no option but to close the site on Monday next because of public safety concerns about picketing.
After hearing both sides, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said she had no option but to commit the men - Andrew Clarke, Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack; Keith Kelly, Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack; and William McClurg, Sallynoggin - to prison. They were later transferred to the Bridewell station and on to Mountjoy Prison. Several supporters of the men attended yesterday's hearing and cheered them.
Some 77 local authority houses are being built on the site at Wyattville Road/Laurel Avenue, Ballybrack. Collen had initiated committal proceedings after the men continued to picket despite a High Court injunction restraining them from watching, besetting or picketing the site.
The men say that dozens of local building workers have sought work on the Collen site where houses for Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown council are being built but none, they claim, were given a job or a promise of a job. A picket was placed on the site last week by local men who say they have lived in the area for over 20 years.
Roddy Horan SC, for Collen, said yesterday there was a state of siege at the site that probably would be perpetuated. The men were in open defiance of a High Court order and it was "an extreme situation" where "mob rule is the writ running in Ballybrack". The Garda had been asked to intervene but declined on two occasions on grounds it was a private dispute.
Pressed by the judge about what order the company was seeking, Mr Horan said he was asking to have the three men committed to prison. Counsel said Collen was never anxious to have the men jailed and believed that was likely to lead to a degree of civil agitation.
Ms Justice Laffoy called up the three men. When she pointed out to Mr McClurg that he was breaking a court order, he said he had no choice because he could not get work. Mr Kelly and Mr Clarke also told the judge they too were prepared to picket.
Ms Justice Laffoy said she had no option but to commit the men to prison.