Jobs at risk at engineering firm

Manufacturing at the company stopped on Thursday

A County Armagh engineering firm has gone into administration putting 80 jobs at risk.

Redrock Engineering Ltd in Markethill makes agricultural and construction equipment.

The downturn in the construction industry and a lull in farm spending has been blamed for the move.

"We have been faced with major cash flow challenges that have become impossible to sustain," said Samuel Hughes.

"We have a highly skilled staff who deserve recognition of their talents, hard work, loyalty and dedication to this Company. I want to pay tribute to them and express my deepest regret that they are facing this uncertainty."

Danny Kennedy, Ulster Unionist MLA for Newry and Armagh, said the news would have a "devastating impact" on the local community.

He said the "potential for job losses was very worrying, particularly in the run up to the Christmas period".

The administrator, Sean Cavanagh of Cavanagh Kelly Chartered Accountants, has advised that a review of the company's operations is being conducted with a view to assessing the options open to the business, which may include selling the company as a going concern.

In the interim the company will continue trading, however manufacturing as of Thursday has been temporarily suspended.