Writing on the all for Limavady Building Supplies which has gone into administration

ANOTHER Northern Ireland building firm has gone to the wall.

McCloskey and O’Kane and its subsidiary firm Limavady Building Supplies have gone into administration with 30 people made redundant.

Keenan CF were appointed joint administrators of the two businesses last Friday.

Earlier this year, the same administrators were appointed to the Patton Group in Ballymena which collapsed owing millions of pounds to creditors.

The news about another building firm hitting a brick wallk is a bad blow to Northern Ireland’s jobless.

Recent figures showed that there are 9,000 more people on the dole this year compared to 2012.

And the number of people made redundant had also jumped by 50 per cent.

A Keenan CF spokesperson said: “Due to severe cash restraints, we are not in a position to continue to trade.”

“Therefore it is with regret that we have had to make 30 members of staff redundant today.

“We continue to work with the remaining staff in order to realise the assets of the companies and will continue to review the ongoing employment levels of the companies.”

The mayor of Limavady, Gerry Mullan, has expressed concern.

“This was the last beacon of hope for Limavady ever since Seagate closed down.

“This is a massive dark cloud for Limavady.

“People are clinging on by their fingernails here.”

The deputy mayor of Limavady, DUP councillor James McCorkell, said: “The first concern must be with those employed with the companies.

“Like so many others in recent years, they will now be facing a very uncertain future.”

In 2008, the town’s biggest employer, Seagate, closed with a loss of over 1,000 jobs.