Town dealt second blow as 240 jobs lost in closure

THE north Cork town of Fermoy has been rocked by the announcement of 240 job losses at components manufacturer FCI, less than a month after it was announced BUPA was slashing 200 jobs there.

The French company, which manufactures connectors for the automotive industry and which has operations in 30 countries and had sales of €1.28 billion, will wind down the operation over two years. It will maintain a staff of only 20 running a service and support operation. It has been operating in Ireland for the past 10 years.

The manufacturing function is to be moved to India as well as to other existing plants. It can be carried out at 85% less cost in the Asian country.