WORKERS at a Shannon company which let go more than 200 staff late last year, and only narrowly avoided closing its production facility completely, have been rewarded with an unexpected cash windfall.

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday moved to qualify comments he made on the Element Six stand-off after being challenged by workers at the under-threat Shannon plant.

THIS country’s lack of competitiveness was yesterday blamed for another huge jobs loss when international diamond giant Element Six (E6) announced the lay off of 370 workers at Shannon, claiming its Irish operation was the most expensive in the world.

THE 370 jobs lost at Element 6 are to follow an overseas route just as the 2,000 wiped out at Dell.