Marks and Spencer blamed for textile firm’s demise

A Lurgan textile factory due to close next month with the loss of 140 jobs could have survived if it had not been for Marks and Spencer, it was claimed today.

David Hillcoat, former director of Courtauld’s Textiles Plc, singled out the major retailer for blame for the demise of Penn-Nyla, which produced fabric for its range of leisure wear.