Court appoints examiner to B&Q

The High Court has confirmed an examiner to B&Q Ireland Ltd, whose situation the judge said had aspects that were both “depressingly familiar” and “refreshingly new”.

B&Q operates nine home improvement stores in Ireland, employing 690 people, of whom 500 are part-time workers.

As part of cost-cutting proposals, B&Q’s two stores in Athlone and Waterford are to close with the “regrettable” loss of 92 jobs, 69 part time and 23 full time, Mr Justice Peter Kelly noted.