90 jobs up in smoke as cigarette factory closes

JUST nine months after the smoking ban was introduced, Imperial Tobacco yesterday announced the closure of its cigarette factory in Dublin with the loss of 90 jobs.

The €20 million John Player cigarette production and distribution facility at Park West was opened less than a year ago.

Shocked workers asked management at a lunchtime meeting yesterday if the move was a response to the introduction of the smoking ban last April. However, the company last night insisted there was no link to the ban. A spokesperson said the closure will enable Imperial to save about €4m a year from 2006 and was part of a worldwide restructuring plan.