22 jobs lost in Receiver drama
Large garda presence in Kilmuckridge as Corrigan’s Londis is closed down
TWENTY-TWO people have been left without jobs following the forced closure of Corrigan’s Londis in Kilmuckridge last week.
A garda cordon was in place around Kilmuckridge as a security company acting on behalf of receiver Deloitte repossessed the supermarket which gardai said was on foot of a High Court order.
From 4.30 a.m., barriers were used to cordon off the shop and adjoining car park as the stock was loaded onto trucks by security personnel. Despite initial reports that up to 50 gardai were present in the village, Sergeant Mick Morrisey from Enniscorthy Garda Station said that there were 15 – one inspector, four sergeants and 10 gardai.
A garda cordon was in place around Kilmuckridge last Wednesday morning as a security company acting on behalf of receiver Deloitte repossessed Corrigan’s Londis which gardai said was on foot of a High Court order.
From 4.30 a.m., barriers were used to cordon off the shop and adjoining car park as the stock was loaded onto trucks by security personnel. Despite initial reports that up to 50 gardai were present in the village, Sergeant Mick Morrisey from Enniscorthy Garda Station said that there were 15 – one inspector, four sergeants and ten gardai. Their presence was required to prevent disturbances of the peace while the repossession was being carried out, he said.
‘We were not there to assist the repossession,’ said Sgt Morrisey, who said that the action was taken on foot of a High Court order.
‘The general view of the public is that the guards were offside, that we shouldn’t have been there and that we were helping the security company. We were there to prevent a breach of the peace.’
Garda checkpoints were set up on all incoming roads to Kilmuckridge and some people were asked to show identification before entering the village.
The operation came to an end at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Sgt Morrisey, the repossession involved the premises only and all of the stock that had been removed from the store was returned to the Corrigan family.
Sgt Morrisey quashed reports that gardai maintained a presence in Kilmuckridge on Wednesday evening, saying that two members are on duty in the Oulart and Kilmuckridge area every night. He said that any visits to the village were part of their regular patrol.
In a statement released to this newspaper yesterday, Mr Hugh Corrigan questioned the enforceability of the court order.
He stated that a private com- pany Melphia Enterprises Ltd (MEL) has ‘leased and operated this premises since October 2013 and has seven years left to run on the present lease. M.E.L has no involvement in any alleged receivership matters; M.E.L. is a very profitable fast-growing business employing 22 full and part time employees. M.E.L. has paid its rent up and including December 31 2016 and is entitled to be operating this business without the interference of any other parties. This business and jobs were wiped out overnight.’
Mr Corrigan also calls on the media to investigate ongoing injustice ‘in this year of commemoration for those who gave their lives so Irish people could exercise basic human rights.’
Describing what happened as ‘outrageous’, he expressed the view that: ‘there are some serious questions to be answered about who has the real power and authority in this country in a demonstration that not much has changed since the sad days when landlords and their henchmen threw families out onto the road.’
Local councillor Mary Farrell said that it was a ‘very sad day for Kilmuckridge’ and empathised with the 22 members of staff in the supermarket.
‘People are here to support the staff. The shop is a central part of the village and local people have been working here for many years,’ she said. ‘This is a sight you wouldn’t like to see in any village.’
‘It’s a shame that this is happening, regardless of the reasons. It all comes down to the fact that people are in fear of their jobs and livelihoods.’
In a lengthy statement, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin also had his say on the issue.
‘People in Kilmuckridge who I met yesterday are understandably deeply shocked and angered by the manner of this assault on their village and to see so many local people facing the dole queue,’ he said.
‘Hopefully, this can be speedily resolved and the staff have their jobs back as soon as possible.’
The supermarket was in the spotlight in October, when it was repossessed by a security firm acting for receiver Deloitte. Concerned staff and locals maintained a strong presence outside the store for a week, culminating in a public protest which was attended by hundreds of people. The security firm subsequently withdrew their staff and left the premises, allowing the store to resume trading as normal.
Receiver Deloitte was contacted for comment by this newspaper but did not respond with a statement.