Trade union leaders were told by a judge yesterday they were entitled to recruit members at the plant owned by millionaire businessman Dr Edward Haug hey, who was nominated to the Seanad Eireann by the Taoiseach.
Mr Justice Coghlin said in the High Court in Belfast he could see nothing in an injunction granted last week to prevent the GMB union from recruiting at Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, Newry, so long as it was done in a lawful way.
The injunction, which was granted by another judge, restrains GMB officials from trespassing at the company's premises and also from intimidating, harassing or interfering with employees. It was issued after the court was told that employees were stopped as they reported for work and given leaflets urging them to join the union.
Barrister Mr Martin Wolfe said at yesterday's hearing the effect of the injunction was to prevent union officials from exercising what they regarded as a lawful right. "Clearly a public interest issue is at stake in regard to recruiting union members," he said.
Mr James McSparran QC, for Norbrook, said they had never sought to prevent GMB officials from carrying out their lawful activities but there were questions relating to trespass and intimidatory acts.
Mr Justice Coghlin adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed and said the injunction would remain in force in the meantime.