‘We are stuck in the middle of this’

AS industry forces fight to decide the future occupancy of the former Roches Stores outlet in Wilton, Cork, the 172 people who have spent up to 30 years working there are left to wonder whether they will have jobs to go to next week.

The shell of the former 45,000sq ft Roches Stores has lain empty for the past three weeks. Its workers were looking forward to taking up new jobs with Marks & Spencer, which was to take over the site.

However, on Sunday, they were plunged into panic when news broke that the deal had fallen through.