Thomas Cook Protestors Released By Judge

A High Court judge has ordered the release of Thomas Cook staff arrested after a sit-in protest at the company's premises on Grafton Street.

Mr Justice Michael Peart said he fully understood the distress and anger of the workers, who had defied an earlier court order to vacate the premises after staging a four day sit in-protest.

However, Mr Justice Peart said he could not permit the law to be broken, as that would be a "recipe for anarchy".

The workers, who are facing redundancy, gave an undertaking to now obey the order not to interfere or trespass at Thomas Cook premises and the judge said he accepted that it was a sufficient purging of their contempt.

He said the events of the past few days have resulted in a great deal of distress for the staff and the families and he would not add to that by imposing a prison sentence.

In frantic scenes in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Gardaí broke down the door of the travel agent on Grafton Street and arrested around 30 of the protestors after the High Court delivered a ruling ordering the workers to leave the premises by 7pm.

Workers decided to defy the ruling and continue their protest over the unscheduled closure and the redundancy package being offered by the firm.

The staff, including a heavily pregnant woman, were taken to the Bridewell Garda station.

According to reports, more than 15 police officers broke down the door of the premises and removed the protesters, including the pregnant woman.

The company said it was offering five weeks per year of service as a redundancy package, which will drop to two weeks if the workers do not accept it.

The company also said it would enter into Labour Court hearings on the condition that the protest was halted.

(DW/KMcA)