Abbott to sell Longford and Sligo factories in $8bn deal

The medical and pharmaceutical firm Abbott Laboratories has announced plans to sell part of its diagnostic division, which operates plants in Longford and Sligo.

The two factories have a combined workforce of almost 900.

Abbott is selling its diagnostics division to General Electric in a deal worth more than $8bn (€6bn).

It is unclear what impact the deal will have on jobs at the two Irish plants.

Abbott's other businesses in Ireland, which employ a further 2,500 people, are unaffected by the sale.