The Supreme Court decided yesterday that each side in the long-running legal action between SIPTU and a Co Wexford transport company should bear its own costs.
On May 15th, in a landmark decision, the court overturned a High Court judgment in favour of Nolan Transport (Oaklands) Ltd, New Ross, following a 22-month strike by some of its drivers. The question of who should pay the costs was adjourned to yesterday.
The High Court had found in favour of the company in a decision of December 1994, ordered SIPTU to pay more than £601,000 in damages and also to pay costs estimated at £700,000.
It granted orders restraining the union from picketing or otherwise engaging in industrial action against the company.
In the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr Ercus Stewart SC, for SIPTU, said his clients had had regard to the judgment of the Supreme Court and attempted to approach the situation in such a way as to reduce the element of confrontation in what had been a bitter trade dispute.
He added that SIPTU was not seeking costs of the High Court action, an interlocutory injunction application or the appeal to the Supreme Court.
It was hoped that approach would be met in the spirit in which it was offered.
Following an adjournment, Mr Justice O'Flaherty, presiding, said the parties had wisely decided to leave "this unhappy episode" behind them and, harmony having been established, the court thought it most appropriate that each side should bear its own costs.