Rumours of Lagan Brick involvement scuppers Kinsgcourt road repairs

Damian McCarney Protesters this morning prevented much needed road repairs from being carried out on Kingscourt Main Street as their dispute with Lagan Brick rumbles on. Acting on a tip off received on Tuesday, over a dozen men arrived in the town at 6.30am to prevent workers, who arrived with five lorry-loads of asphalt, from commencing the resurfacing work. The former Lagan Brick staff claim that they saw a document carried by one of the lorry drivers, which indicated that the main contractor was Lagan Asphalt, a sister company of Lagan Brick. Speaking to The Anglo-Celt, a spokesman for the workers, Stephen Burns insisted that they at no stage blocked the road. He said the lorry drivers were "quite agreeable" and did not try to commence work when the protesters' position was explained. A total of 29 workers (25 staff from the floor and four office staff) are protesting the refusal of Lagan Brick to pay what the workers insist is their entitlement after they were laid off in December 2011. Mr Burns acknowledged that the Main Street is in need of urgent repairs but insists that they will not back down until the company abide by the recommendations of the Labour Court. The court recommended that Lagan Brick pay the men the statutory two weeks redundancy plus one year per year of service. Mr Burns estimates that on average the company owes each of the workers approximately €20,000. He says that they have received great support from the Kingscourt businesses in their protest. The Anglo-Celt has requested a response from Lagan Brick.