Jobs blow as factory closes

Courtaulds has shed half its workforce in recent times

One hundred and thirty-seven jobs are being lost with the closure of a County Armagh textiles plant, in the latest blow to the industry in Northern Ireland.

Courtaulds Lingerie is shutting down its factory at Carn, outside Portadown.

The firm said that after discussions with the union no alternative to full closure could be found.

The redundancy process will begin on 15 February and will last for several weeks.

Courtaulds blamed increased competition among retailers and the availability of cheap imports for the closure.

Mayor of Craigavon Fred Crowe said the announcement was "another major blow for the area".

The Ulster Unionist councillor said the council had been doing all it could to try to help the company avoid closing the factory.

Half workforce shed

More than 4,000 jobs have been lost in the textiles industry in the province over the last few years.

Two years ago, Courtaulds employed more than 1,000 people in Northern Ireland. However, it is now believed to be about half that figure.

In the last 12 months, more than 400 jobs have been lost in the company.

Last May, 160 were made redundant when it shut a plant in Markethill, County Armagh.

Shortly afterwards it closed a factory in Plumbridge with the loss of 124 jobs.

In 1999, 150 jobs were lost in Cookstown, County Tyrone whilst 90 were lost in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh.

Courtaulds is now owned by the American company Sara Lee, which took over the firm last year.