133 JOBS ARE to be lost in Cashel, Co Tipperary, following the decision of a company owned by Johnson & Johnson to close down.

Cordis Corporation, a subsidiary of J&J, said it was to cease production of a coronary stent device manufactured in the facility, and was also cancelling development of a newer model of stent.

As a result, the factory would have no further business and would be closed by the end of the year with the loss of all 133 jobs.

The Irish Times quoted Cordis general manager David Kinahan as saying the closure was “not a reflection on the dedication and hard work of everyone here at Cashel.”

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said it hoped to find alternative uses for the Cordis site and would try to redeploy its workers to other facilities it owns in Ireland.

Workers were informed of the job losses this afternoon.

Local TD Tom Hayes extended his sympathies to those losing their jobs, and said he intended to work with Cordis locally in its efforts to redeploy the affected staff.

A plant in Puerto Rico which manufactured the same stent is also to close.