Security firm Brinks-Allied Ltd gave an undertaking to the High Court yesterday to resume delivering amounts of cash as set out under contract to Bank of Ireland ATMs and to central security cash locations.
Brian O'Moore SC, for Brinks, told Mr Justice John MacMenamin that the nub of the 12-day dispute between the bank and Brinks was the transport of cash following the recent series of hijacks.
As of yesterday Brinks was carrying cash in its trucks at a reduced limit but would make enough deliveries of that reduced amount to equal the contract figure, counsel said. It might take a few days to boost that service.
Mr O'Moore said that currently the company had a family of one crew member in a safe house following death threats by a paramilitary organisation. That was what they were facing, he said.
The undertaking on behalf of Brinks was given following a decision by Mr Justice MacMenamin that it seemed he had no option but to favour a proposal that Brinks take reduced cash amounts in the vans. That option would continue pending further order of the court, he indicated.
The judge was told negotiations between the sides would start on Tuesday. He adjourned the matter to Thursday.
Giving his decision, Mr Justice MacMenamin said the bank was claiming there were alleged breaches of two contracts of service by Brinks in relation to ATMs and cash in transit.
The sole issue before the court in yesterday's proceedings was to decide the interim arrangements regarding what cash limit was to be carried in vans until after Tuesday, when negotiations on the basis of goodwill, he was informed, would take place between the parties.
For reasons of public interest the parties quite rightly had agreed proposals not be outlined in open court.
Proposal A represented the current van limit; proposal B the van limit suggested by Brinks on April 19th; and proposal C the level of van limit suggested pending further order of the court.
The three proposals were in descending order of magnitude.
Two paramount considerations had arisen from what he had been told: the safety and lives of Brinks employees and perhaps of the bank, and public interest in the prevention and deterrence of violent crime.
In those circumstances it seemed to him the court had no option but to choose proposal C, the lowest level of cash.
This was based on a very substantial and radical reduction in the cash level carried in Brinks vans which would, in Brinks's submission, constitute a clear deterrent to criminals and a diminution of risk to employees.
Alexander Owens SC, for the Bank of Ireland, said that in addition to carrying cash for the Bank of Ireland, Brinks had also carried cash for other commercial customers in its vans and serviced 86 ATMs for the bank around Dublin city.
Last week it appeared that Brinks was carrying one-tenth or one-twelfth of the original cash limit on each trip, making the process meaningless.
Mr O'Moore said that, under the agreement (made in 2003 and which runs out later this year), Brinks would be the people to call the shots on reasonable security recommendations.