ICTU condemns property developers

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has launched a blistering attack on the property developers surrounding the Jurys Doyle hotel chain, accusing them of sacrificing 800 jobs to satisfy their greed.

As takeover speculation continues to heighten after Sean Dunne and Liam Carroll increased their stakes in the company yesterday, Congress general-secretary David Begg said the "speculator-driven feeding frenzy" would cost the jobs of the Jurys' employees.

Around 800 jobs will be lost in the next couple of years when Jurys hotel on its Ballsbridge site, which is being sold to Mr Dunne, closes. There is also the prospect of further jobs losses as Jurys plans to sell the Berkeley Court and Jurys Montrose hotels.