Debenhams protestor says Cork sit-in 'was like house arrest'

One protestor missed her daughter's first day of school to take part in the three-day sit-in, saying it "was a major sacrifice"

(Front middle) Valerie Conlon, Mandate shop steward, was among the the eight Mandate workers who took part in the sit-in protest, pictured with supporters on Maylor Street after they ended the sit-in. Pic: Larry Cummins

"They can bail out the banks in 24 hours so they can bail out Debenhams workers now," said protest leader Valerie Conlon to screams of support after she left a three-day sit-in at the Patrick Street store in Cork.

Valerie and her former colleagues have been protesting their treatment by Debenhams which has not paid a previously agreed redundancy package of two weeks' pay per year of service on top of their two weeks' statutory entitlement.