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RollingNews.ie

Clerys workers are going to get a settlement, almost two years after the department store shut down

The full details of the settlement are confidential.

FORMER WORKERS AT Clerys department store in Dublin city centre are to get a financial settlement, almost two years after it unexpectedly shut down in controversial circumstances.

The settlement was reached as part of a deal between the Justice for the Clerys Workers Campaign and Natrium, which bought the former department store.

As part of the deal, Siptu has dropped its appeal against planning permission for the Clerys building.

This means that the proposed multi-million redevelopment of the Clerys building into a multi-use retail, hotel and restaurant until will go ahead.

About 130 direct employees and another 330 who sold their wares in the department store through concessions lost their jobs when Clerys was suddenly declared insolvent in June 2015.

The subsequent liquidation has become infamous due to the cold treatment of the staff, many of whom had worked at the store for decades. On top of the ill-treatment of workers, the State ended up having to foot the bill for redundancies.

The exact details of the new settlement for the former Clerys workers have not been made public.

However, it includes a “significant” goodwill payment to the former Clerys staff, as well as a number of other provisions relating to the building and the north inner city community.

The campaign said they were happy with the settlement.

Speaking today in the Mansion House, Dublin Lord mayor Brendan Carr said that the announcement of an agreement between both sides “closed a period of strife” in the city’s history.

Carr also charted the important role Clerys had played in the history of the city.

“Following the agreement… I hope that future lord mayors will never have to pass a vacant Clerys building on St PAtrick’s Day again,” he said.

“Not here to talk about the past”

Deirdre Foley of Natrium – the company which controls the the Clerys building – also spoke in the mansion House today. She said her company was looking forward to proceeding with the development of the building, which she said will take about three years.

When questioned about whether she had any comment to make in relation to the treatment of the ex-Clery workers, Foley said she was “not here today to talk about the past”.

Ethel Buckley of Siptu described the deal as “the beginning of a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation between Dublin City Council, community organisations, trade unions and business”.

The redevelopment of the Clerys building, which dates back to 1853, will see a hotel, shops, office space and restaurants opened on the site.

- With reporting by Christine Bohan

Read: A quarter of the cash from Clerys’ liquidation has gone to accountants and lawyers

Read: Clerys building to come to life with extra floor and glass atrium

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37 Comments
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    Mute Michelle Byrne
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:31 PM

    Its tough for a family to lose a family member so far from home. God rest him.

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    Mute B Collins
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:19 PM

    Rest in peace.

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    Mute SkepticallySpeaking
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:30 PM

    every parent’s worst nightmare, rip

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    Mute Jimmy Myers
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    Nov 19th 2012, 7:30 PM

    Deaths on roads happen in every country,very sad news for family and friends and the young lad on the other side of the world RIP.

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    Mute dave pratt
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    Nov 19th 2012, 8:12 PM
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    Mute Den Ni Chroinin
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    Nov 19th 2012, 8:17 PM

    Shocking story. How much can the dispute have been over, a couple of dollars!!

    RIP

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    Mute mick lennon
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    Nov 19th 2012, 11:08 PM

    Jesus that’s appalling,what a terrible waste of life over a couple of bucks,god rest his soul

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    Mute Máire Lenihan
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    Nov 20th 2012, 3:17 AM

    That’s an awful story. A young man killed in the prime of his life and his poor friend having to witness this. I took a journey with a Sydney cab a couple of weeks ago. The driver was one of the rudest people I’ve ever met and refused to help me even though I was struggling with luggage. This was during the day and I really felt he didn’t deserve my money. I hope this man gets jailed for this.

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    Mute Cathleen O Connor
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    Nov 19th 2012, 11:24 PM

    Thinking of the family at this difficult time

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    Mute Lauren McEnery
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    Nov 20th 2012, 1:33 AM

    Heard it on the radio yesterday here in Perth. Taxi drivers are in the news a couple of times a week over things like this and people attacking them. It’s ridiculous

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    Mute Dave Mc Evoy
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    Nov 20th 2012, 7:54 AM

    May he R.I.P.

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    Mute Jessica
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    Nov 20th 2012, 6:17 AM

    A 26 year old Perth taxi driver has been charged with dangerous driving causing fatal injuries to his passenger.

    A police statement has confirmed that an argument between the driver and Ryan took place regarding the fare.

    The report stated, “As a passenger was exiting the vehicle the driver accelerated the vehicle, causing the passenger to fall to the ground, where he received life-threatening injuries.”

    That’s what happened, it was all over the news over here.

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Nov 20th 2012, 8:00 AM

    Tragedy. Au be test in peace.
    May the justice system work properly in WA.

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