£1m in TNT clients' goods `held to ransom'

AN IRISH company within the TNT worldwide express delivery group is being held to ransom for up to £1 million by one of its subcontractors…

AN IRISH company within the TNT worldwide express delivery group is being held to ransom for up to £1 million by one of its subcontractors, the High Court has been told.

Mrs Justice McGuinness was told that drivers from Manning Transport Ltd, which carried out all TNT deliveries and collections in the Cork area, had taken over the local TNT depot on Monday.

Mr Geoffrey Carr, managing director of TNT Express (Ireland) Ltd, told the court Manning Transport had seized up to £1 million worth of TNT customers goods in transit and had concealed them.

He said his company had been told these consignments would not be released until Manning Transport had received money it claimed was due from TNT and which was disputed.

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Mr Carr, in an affidavit, told the court of an incident at the end of August last involving an illegal drugs shipment through the TNT transport network.

He said gardai became aware of the shipment, which had been carried by one of the drivers employed by Manning Transport Ltd, Mr John McSweeney, who had handed it to two people on the side of the road in highly unusual circumstances.

Especially unusual was the fact that Mr McSweeney had apparently forged a proof of delivery by signing the name of the alleged consignee, Mr Carr said.

He said the gardai had been observing the movements of the parcel and had apprehended two individuals who had obtained it. He understood these two individuals and Mr McSweeney would be charged by gardai in connection with an unlawful substance.

Mr Carr said he called an urgent meeting to investigate the incident. It had been attended by himself and Mr Terry Manning, managing director of Manning Transport, as well as Mr Terry Downes, TNT's security manager, and their respective legal advisers.

"As a result of the meeting there was no firm evidence available to implicate Manning Transport Ltd in respect of the incident," Mr Carr said.

He told the court he was not, however, satisfied in relation to all aspects of the delivery operation run by Manning Transport from TNT's Cork depot. As part of a review of TNT's countrywide operations, which had been started before July last, all sub-contract work was put out to tender and Manning Transport had sought a new contract.

On Monday evening he was informed that Mr Terry Manning and his drivers had occupied the canteen at TNT's Cork depot and were refusing to carry out work. He was also informed of the missing consignments and the message that they would not be released until Manning Transport had received such monies as it was due.

Mr Carr said there had been a dispute involving £9,000 between TNT and Manning Transport. On Monday he received invoices from Manning Transport claiming it was owed £81,000. He believed these claims were entirely without substance.

Mrs Justice McGuinness granted injunctions restraining Manning Transport Ltd or its staff from trespassing in the depot at Halt one Industrial Estate, Farmers Cross, Cork interfering with TNT's business there and wrongfully withholding parcels and packages belonging to TNT customers.

She also granted TNT liberty to serve short notice of motion for permanent injunctions returnable on Monday, October 7th.