Three unemployed bricklayers from south Dublin today walked free from court after agreeing to comply with a court order not to protest or picket a number of construction sites in the area.
Keith Kelly (37), of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack; Andrew Clarke (24) of Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack; and William McClurg (50) from Sallynoggin were jailed on February 10th when they said they would continue to picket a Ballybrack site owned by Collen Construction Ltd.
The men claimed they had unsuccessfully sought work at the site. They said they were refused jobs because they were from the local area and were union members.
Collen is building 77 local-authority houses for Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown council on the site. The construction company began committal proceedings after the men continued picketing despite a High Court injunction restraining them.
The men, who have been in Mountjoy Prison for the past two weeks, gave an undertaking in the High Court today not to interfere with or obstruct workers at building sites run by Collen Construction.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy ordered they be freed immediately and said they had learned a lesson that court orders must be obeyed.
Reading from a statement outside the court, the three men urged workers to join unions in order to protect their rights.