'I'm p****d off, why wouldn't I be? We have families to support, mortgages to pay'

Workers at Tara Mines have described their devastation at news that the 650-strong workforce is to be temporarily laid off as the company tries to stem the 'substantial financial losses' that forced it to announce the bombshell decision last night.

Speaking to media at Tara Mines this morning as meetings took place between staff and management and then officers/unions and management, miners Gerry Devins and Mick Fitzsimons said they were shocked at the decision made by parent-company Boliden to enter a 'care and maintenance' phase over the next four weeks effectively ceasing all operations at the facility.

More on this developing story here...