O’Neill closure a terrible loss - Durkan

“We have to feel for all the workers who have been hit with this terrible news coming up to Christmas. The decision forced on the company is no reflection on their talents or commitment.

“We also have to feel for Phelim O’Neill who had to take this step in the face of the terrible business climate for the construction sector.

“O’Neill Brothers has always been a family firm who have extended that family spirit to their workforce. They have also served their customers well and have adorned this city with quality work,” said the local MP.

He said the banking and financial crisis provided the backdrop to the closure but more should be done to support the construction sector.

“The fact is that measures have been deployed in both Scotland and Wales using devolution to provide job-keeping contracts to construction firms.

“Creative planning of capital expenditure, responsive maintenance programmes and measured, timely and deliverable projects have helped to deliver good work for the public estate and local construction firms to survive in other places.

“We should have been bending our systems and our budgets here to achieve the same,” he said.