A woman whose public protests threaten to reveal the whereabouts of a Women's and Children's Refuge Centre has been restrained by a High Court judge from picketing the premises.
Marguerite Bolger, counsel for the Health Service Executive, told Mr Justice Frank Clarke that the address was confidential from the public and particularly from the partners or fathers of victims of domestic violence forced to use it.
She said that in many cases even people working or living near such centres were unaware of their real purpose. The HSE put considerable emphasis on the confidentiality of such safe houses.
Ms Bolger said the assistant manager of the south Dublin refuge concerned was engaged in an industrial relations dispute with the HSE and had not fully engaged in procedures available to her.
John Broe, employee relations manager with the HSE, told the court the woman was picketing up and down in front of the centre and carried a placard stating: "The HSE ignores bullying." He had asked her to stop and undertake not to continue with the protest but these pleas had been ignored.
He said that apart from the placard giving the wrong impression of the work of the executive, her activities were causing concern in that they could identify the nature of the premises. He said the woman had on occasions been joined in her picket by several other people who were not connected with or employed by the centre.
Judge Clarke granted the HSE an injunction restraining the woman, or anyone with knowledge of the making of his order, from picketing any refuge.