Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin seek assurances on future of jobs at Newry meat factory

Published: 29 May, 2009

Newry and Mourne Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty has said that his party is seeking a meeting with the owners of ABP meat factory in Newry. Cllr Hearty who intends to meet the owners along with MP Conor Murphy and Mickey Brady MLA has said that Sinn Féin want assurances that the factory will be resituated in Newry after it was announced that the owners have put forward proposal to change the usage of the site from industrial to business and residential.

Cllr Hearty said,

"ABP meat factory currently employs 220 people. We are demanding that these jobs are not lost to the people of this area.

"The farming community in South Armagh and South Down have provided ABP with livestock for decades and rely on this facility as part of their livelihood.

"If this factory is removed from this area, local farmers will be forced to travel to long distances with their livestock, a situation that is not practicable."