Irish democratic party due to protest at dunnes stores in tullamore

The Irish Democratic Party(IDP) is due to protest outside Dunnes Stores on Church Road in Tullamore this morning.

The action is being taken in support of retailers at the mall who are concerned that up to 40 jobs may be at risk because Dunnes Stores is keeping an emergency exit open.

Retailers say an emergency exit onto the main carpark is being left open, enabling its use as an entrance and allowing shoppers to bypass the smaller outlets in the mall by directly entering and exiting Dunnes Stores.

Members of the IDP said they will again show support for the small businesses in the shopping centre at Church Road, Tullamore from around 11am this morning.

The IDP said: “This unexplained action by Dunnes has resulted in many people no longer using the main entrance to the shopping centre.  According to the small business owners who share the centre 40 jobs are seriously at risk of being lost due to the major fall off in passing trade.”

They claimed Offaly County Councillors had shown little interest in the situation.

Offaly County Council has written to Dunnes in relation to the matter. The issue, which has been ongoing since November, was also raised in the Dail by Deputy Barry Cowen.