More job losses as Musgrave “shuts up shop”

At least seven jobs are to be lost when an Inishowen wholesaler ceases trading in Bridgend this week, the “Inish Times” can reveal. The decision by Musgrave Food Services to close its doors for the last time this Friday has sparked angry reaction from employees and the local business community.Confirming the closure, a spokesperson for the company said the move was an attempt “to cut costs.”William Kilpatrick said: “I can confirm the depot is closing down.” However, a union representative for the workers claimed the depot could have been saved.George Hunter, of MANDATE, said: “It is very disappointing. The place could have been saved. More effort seems to have been put in to closing it down than was put in trying to save it.”Many restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and other retail outlets throughout Inishowen which have been using Musgrave’s for ten years, will now have to make alternative arrangements. The news of the loss of the jobs comes a week after Buncrana furniture company Flanagan’s revealed it had to lay-off eight of its workers.Musgrave’s action has angered Buncrana business man, John O’Donnell, owner of Crana Videos, who said he was shocked and dismayed by the move.Hitting out at Government policy, Mr. O’Donnell claimed Inishowen was being held in “complete contempt.” He said: “Major companies and the Government are holding Inishowen in complete contempt. It seems the further away from Dublin you are, the less important you become.” Mr. O’Donnell added: “It makes me so angry that Inishowen is being downgraded once again. The politicians all seem happy to come around at election time and talk about what their parties are doing for Inishowen but nothing seems to change. They are giving us a load of waffle about what is going on.”“It wasn’t so long ago that 2,000 people lost their jobs due to the closing of Fruit of the Loom. No company in Dublin would have lost that many jobs. It is unfair that Inishowen always gets it in the neck.”Mr. O’Donnell said he could not see the reason why Musgrave’s had decided to close its Inishowen depot.He said: “I don’t see why they have to pick Inishowen as the place to cut costs. Inishowen is the same size as Co Louth but you can imagine what kind of an outcry there would be if such an outlet closed there.”Mr O’Donnell added: “The Government don’t give a damn about Donegal and Inishowen. Most suppliers will have to travel to Letterkenny now or look further to do trading.“The downturn is tighter than ever but that doesn’t seem to matter. Inishowen is once again being cut off like a piece of ice on an iceberg and left to drift.”