The car components firm Montupet may not go ahead with moves to jail five pickets, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday. Montupet's lawyer said the nature of the dispute had changed and the company might not proceed with applications to commit the men to prison for breaching court orders not to picket the plant at Dunmurry.
Last week the management tried to end the 11 week dispute by offering 18 sacked workers £3,000 with a promise that legal action would be dropped if picketing ceased. The offer was rejected.
Mr Justice Girvan said it was important that the court and the defendants should know if the company intended to proceed with the committal applications. He adjourned the hearing until Friday when he expected to be told the company's definitive view. In the meantime, the injunctions against named strikers and sacked employees remain in force.