John Fitzpatrick and Siobhan Wray from Total IT Systems in Derrylin
“AT last, there is some light on the horizon.”
That’s how one Derrylin resident described news that an ex-Quinn Group consortium are to secure a deal to buy two divisions from present owners Aventas.
There was a universal welcome after the Quinn Business Retention Company (QBRC), headed by former Quinn Group chief executive Liam McCaffrey, reached an agreement which effectively sealed the deal to buy major segments of the former Quinn empire.
The deal – which should see the cement, packaging and Construction Industry Supply divisions, including concrete block and roof tile product plants, sold off by Aventas – will affect an estimated 650 workers.
However, Aventas has said it will continue to own and operate its glass, radiator and plastics businesses.
Derrylin residents and business people have welcomed the Quinn bid take-over and expressed their view on the local impact.
John Fitzpatrick, IT solutions in Derrylin said: “There’s great jubilation. People are very very happy that at last there’s some light on the horizon. Before it was going nowhere, we had nothing but misery basically. People are happy at least that they can see the business going into local hands, a very experienced team who have proven before what they can do and it’s the only way forward.
“It’s had a huge impact: In the Quinn days they were always employing graduates, taking on new employees all the time. Now people are on a boat or on a plane to Australia or America – if there were jobs here they wouldn’t be going. People want to be at home.”
Declan Reilly, Kinawley, works in insurance said: “There was always a lot of security in the local area when you had the Quinn group. It was always local people, local families employed by the Quinn group. And I suppose when it went into administration and when the Quinn family was moved out, there was a lot of concern about jobs and prospects.
“Here in the local area there’s been an awful lot of people in the local area who moved out, moved away and had there been a bit more security up here I’m guessing they would have stayed on.
“People are saying it’s great news, basically that there’s going to be secure jobs or local people, with local people running the business there’s more loyalty to the local area.”
The group of businessmen involved with QBRC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aventas Group regarding the purchase of Quinn Packaging Limited and the Construction Industry Supply businesses in Derrylin and Ballyconnell.
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