More than 80 workers at the Ruibear Motair Teo (RMT) plant in Derrybeg, Co Donegal have lost their jobs with the closure of the plant yesterday.
German-owned RMT manufactures rubber car components for the European market and was for a period one of the flagship employers in the Derrybeg Industrial Estate.
The company has been in a serious financial crisis for some time now but the order books are full. Just last week a quantity of the machinery at the plant was removed to Germany, while earlier this month 25 employees were let go.
Workers were informed of the decision during working hours yesterday and left the plant during their shifts. Those arriving for an evening shift learned of the news from fellow employees they met leaving the plant. A total of 86 employees have lost their jobs.
One employee, Mr Padge McGarvey (33), a father of three from Gortahork, said: "It's a terrible shock. We knew for a while that things weren't going too well but it doesn't sink in until you're told straight out that your job is gone.
"Many of the workers here have mortgages and the prospect of jobs locally is literally nil," he said.
Many employees are laying the blame at the door of Údarás na Gaeltachta which initially invested in the company but was not prepared to invest further.
The RMT plant was officially opened in 1991 by former Taoiseach, Mr Charlie Haughey, and had ambitious plans to employ more than 400 people but this never materialised. Satellite factories in Dungloe and Falcarragh also closed. Over the years the company has received State grants of more than €7 million.
