A cab drivers’ organisation is seeking legal aid to defend proceedings brought against it by the Commission for Taxi Regulation arising from a sit-in at its offices earlier in the week.
The Commission brought proceedings against the ITC over the sit-in and secured an injunction yesterday against those involved.
When the case was returned before Ms Justice Mary Laffoy today, ITC President Frank Byrne gave an undertaking they would not engage in any furrther trespass at, or picket, the Commission’s offices at Dublin’s Fitzwillliam Square.
He said the ITC intended to resist allegations made in the case but wanted to get legal advice.
He asked for legal aid for the ITC, a voluntary body, but was told by the judge this was not a matter for the High Court.
Mr Byrne then asked for four weeks to consult a solicitor because the proceedings had “come rather fast so we need time to consider.”
The judge ordered he provide replying affidavits by April 1st and adjourned the matter to April 14th.
Earlier, two members of the ITC, Patrick Walsh and Thomas Barton, who staged a sit-in at the regulator’s offices on Monday night, also undertook not to return to the building which they left on yesterday evening after the injunction was granted.
They further undertook not to picket the building or a nearby car park at Fitzwilliam Court used by the regulator’s staff. A security man was allegedly photographed going in and out of the car park, the regulator has claimed.
The regulator had complained the actions of the cab drivers meant it was unable to allow its staff into the building earlier this week due to concerns for health and safety.
