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Five jobs go at Quigley’s
Point company
17.10.08
Leopard’s Point closure
could cost more jobs
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
THE SLOWDOWN in the construction industry has led to
further job losses in Inishowen. Five employees of
Michael Doherty and Sons Construction Ltd were paid
off last Friday, the company boss, Michael Doherty,
told the Inishowen Independent.
Now a court order requiring Mr Doherty to vacate the
Quigley’s Point depot where he stores his vehicles
and equipment will put further jobs at his firm at
risk, the local building contractor has claimed.
For the last five years Mr Doherty has leased a
section of a three-acre yard, located at Leopard’s
Point, from local landowner Eamon Gallagher. However
a Letterkenny Circuit Court order, received by Mr
Doherty on September 25 requires Michael, and the
others who use the facility, to vacate the site by
December 1. Mr Doherty explained: “As my business
grew, I needed more space and security. I found what
I thought was an ideal premises, [at Leopard’s
Point] which I rented at a reasonable cost. All was
well until I [received] a letter from Donegal County
Council’s planning department informing me that the
site was an unauthorised development.” |
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Mr Doherty says he has
no choice but to comply with the order. He added
that the nearest depot is in Bridgend, but this is
not suitable. “As I cannot find a suitable premises,
it seems I will have difficulty operating.” The
contractor stressed he be forced to sell his plant
machinery and building equipment and added the
future of his business could be in doubt. “I have
started to lay off employees, [workers] who have |
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been with me for quite
a few years. Most of my employees are married men,
some with big families,” said Mr Doherty, who
insisted further job losses were likely.
The court order requires that Eamon Gallagher, the
owner of the Leopard’s Point facility, cease to use
the site as a scrap yard, or for the storage of
various materials such as pallets, logs and
machinery. It also calls for the removal of ‘the
unauthorised secure-fenced compound’ and the
restoration of the land back to its original
condition.
Mr Gallagher bought the site, in the past used by
the US and British military to assemble sea planes,
in 1991. He questioned the wisdom of the court
order, given the current problems facing the
building industry. The Donegal Green party have in
the past criticised the existing use of the
Leopard’s Point. When contacted by the Inishowen
Independent, Donegal North East Green Party
representative Frank Gallagher, said he backed the
court ruling. |
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