200 jobs to go in Down factory closure

Nearly 200 workers at a Northern Ireland textiles factory were told tonight that they are to lose their jobs.

Saintfield Yarns in Co Down is to shut down tomorrow with the entire workforce of 189 being made redundant.

Managing director Philip Sandford said the decision to shut the company had been taken with “great regret”.

A statement from the directors said the decision had been taken “as a result of extreme trade sector pressures, as well as the recent loss of key customers and the companies Credit Insurance cover”.

Credit insurance had been withdrawn from one key customer and the situation had then snowballed, said Mr Sandford.

The Saintfield-based firm has made yarn for use in carpets and other floor coverings for the past ten years.

But Mr Sandford admitted that “we have not been a profitable company for a few years”.

Last week trade unionists hit out at the British government for not doing enough to help the textile industry in Northern Ireland after 300 jobs were lost when Marks & Spencer supplier Desmonds announced it was closing its last factory in the North and moving the work abroad to cut costs.