Work on a £1.8 million block of apartments at St Augustine Street, Dublin, is at a virtual standstill because of a picket placed by two blocklayers there, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Justice McCracken granted McCabe Builders Ltd, of St John's House, High Street, Tallaght, an interim injunction restraining Mr Keith Kelly and Mr Kevin Brompton, of unknown addresses, or any person acting in consort with them, from watching, besetting or picketing the construction site.
They, and others having knowledge of the order, were also ordered not to interfere with access to the site.
Mr Ercus Stewart SC, for the company, said he would arrange to have a notice of the court order put on the gate to the site.
In an affidavit, Mr Padraig Brennan, engineer and contracts manager with McCabe Builders, said both defendants were members of the Bricklayers and Allied Trades Union and had been picketing the site since October 5th last.
There was no trade dispute between the company and the defendants nor was there any issue whatsoever between the parties other than the defendants' attempt to force McCabe Builders to take them into direct employment. If the picketing continued, it would have a catastrophic effect on the company's business. There was a £20,000 a week penalty clause in the contract which was due for completion by December 31st next. Mr Justice McCracken said his interim order would apply until Monday next.