WORKERS' REACTION: shock gives way to anxiety

Five members of the Cox family from Edgeworthstown who worked in C&D Foods stood in the rain in shock yesterday as smoke billowed from the badly damaged plant.

Marie Cox, who worked in quality control, was joined by her three daughters, who had various jobs in production. A fourth daughter was also working part-time on the production line.

Clearly upset, the family members said they felt sick at what had happened. "I can't believe it," said an ashen-faced Mrs Cox, "I just hope they start again soon."

Séamus Gilchriest and Raymond Hussey from Edgeworthstown worked at the factory and were also part-time members of the local fire brigade. They were called out to fight the fire late on Sunday night.

"We got the call at about 11," said Mr Gilchriest, who was still in uniform at the plant at midday yesterday.

"We were told where the fire was when we got to the station, and when we came down the road, people were out at their doors shouting to us it was C&D."

Mr Gilchriest, a yardman, said his two brothers also worked there, as did his brother-in-law, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. His fireman colleague Raymond Hussey had two sisters working in the plant

Such dependence on the plant was fairly typical of most families in Edgeworthstown, said Mr Gilchriest.

He added that the staff were all traumatised by the loss of the plant.

Mr Gilchriest's brother, Gerry, was watching events with his friends and co-workers, Stephen Reilly and James Montgomery.

They had heard of the fire late on Sunday and had spent the time since then wondering about the future of their jobs.

At that stage no official word had been given to staff. Two of the men - Mr Reilly and Mr Gilchriest - had been rostered to work on a shift beginning at 1pm yesterday.

"Everyone is just waiting to see what will happen," they said.