Former Debenhams workers and their supporters in Waterford had a four hour standoff with gardai last night.
The workers have been manning the picket line at the rear of the City Square premises for over a year in an attempt to prevent stock from being taken from the store.
The row centres on fair redundancy packages for the staff, many of whom had worked for the defunct chain for decades.
Last night the situation came to a head when the stock was removed on behalf of liquidators KPMG.
*Red alert* Waterford Debenhams Store - a number of KPMG and K Tech Security have entered the store in last 15 minutes. Big mobilisation here already and more coming. Please come down to support if you can. #Debenhams pic.twitter.com/011EhBc579
— Michelle Byrne (@Michelle_Byrne_) May 10, 2021
Protestors claim gardai forcibly removed them from the picket line. However, Waterford gardai say they engaged with protestors on foot of a high court order.
They say everyone was compliant and the stock removal passed off without incident.
