Workers at a north Dublin supermarket are currently protesting after showing up to work this morning to find the shop closed.
Iceland stores in Coolock, Northside Shopping Centre and Talbot Street have been closed after an interim examiner was appointed to the company that operates the supermarket here.
Yesterday the High Court heard that Metron Stores Ltd, who operate the chain in Ireland, is insolvent and has a debt estimated to be in the region of €36 million.
Staff at the Coolock branch Molly Prendergast, Karen Keating and Jeanette Joyce Flood are currently occupying the store after showing up to work this morning to find the shutters down.
Read more: 'Crazy scenario' as multiple Dublin Iceland stores shut
They received an email at 9:05am this morning, after they had already come to work, explaining to them that they have been temporarily laid off. A crowd has gathered outside the store this afternoon in support of the women and gardai were at the scene earlier.
Speaking to Dublin Live from inside the store, Jeanette said: "We had no notification that we were going to shut. We got an email at about 9:05am this morning to say what had happened.
"We had shown up to work as normal, the shutters were down. There was a guy here overseeing the removal of (some items) so when we opened the shutters, the three of us stepped in, peacefully of course.
"We asked if we could have it in writing that we would have our wages, back wages and holiday pay and we would happily vacate the store then. He couldn't give it to us and kept saying we needed to contact HR."
Jeanette added that the support from the large crowd that have gathered outside the store has been "fantastic".
"Work colleagues, friends and family and local businesses have come out to show their support," she said. "It's great to see that the support is there.
"It's quite sad as well. I've had seven years with this company and all of a sudden it's gone. I have a mortgage and now you're panicking about what's going to happen when the mortgage is due."
Last week the company was the subject of a major food recall, with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland ordering that hundreds of products be taken off the shelves.
A garda spokesman told Dublin Live: "An Garda Siochana are aware of a demonstration in the Coolock area of Co Dublin involving a small group of individuals today, Wednesday, 21 June 2023.
"Local Gardai did engage with the parties present. No other Garda involvement was necessary at this time. There is a constitutional right to the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, subject to statutory provisions.
"An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights. An Garda Síochána has no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings."
Dublin Live has contacted the interim examiner of Iceland for comment.
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