O’Boyle case retrial sought

Press, 15 February 1984, Page 4

O’Boyle case retrial sought

The members and former members of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union who had an award of 552,000 damages made against them by a jury last December have filed for a retrial in the

High Court. The motion for the retrial has been set down for March 12.

Patrick Martin O’Boyle, aged 46, an unemployed tanker driver, was awarded the damages after a long trial before Mr Justice Roper and a jury. The jury found that the 11 defendants had conspired to cause injury to Mr O’Boyle by making him pay an unlawful levy of 25c a week which was later increased to 95c; by causing him mental and physical suffering and by causing him to lose the right to attend union

meetings, and to exercise the privileges of members; and by putting his job with the Mobil Oil Company in jeopardy. Mr O’Boyle alleged that he had been the victim of

conspiracy, intimidation, and assault after he had challenged the legality of the levy.

The damages were awarded against Peter Reginald Liggett, secretary of the Drivers’ Union; Daryl Collins, former president of the union; Rodney Kennedy Root, Ronald John Rogatski, Murray Allan Rayner, Kevin Maxwell Penn, Roger Frank Carson, Brian Richard Bennison, Robert William Michael Taylor, William Douglas Lynn and George Edward Bloofield. All defendants denied liability.