Relief and delight in Fermoy at Quinn news

Reaction:The news that Quinn Group is to buy Bupa Ireland and save some 300 jobs in Fermoy in north Cork was last night greeted with a mixture of relief and delight by both employees and local public and business representatives.

Donal Lehane, a medical services manager at the Bupa operation who has been with the company for the past 10 years and whose wife Mary is also a Bupa Ireland employee, said the news was a a huge relief to everyone.

"Things weren't looking too good before Christmas. It's been a tough couple of months since the High Court case and, while there was always an element of hope with the Government talks, it was starting to dwindle as time moved on," he said.

"The uncertainty is gone and everyone is upbeat and just thankful that we are still in business."

Mary Condon from Cork city revealed that staff were called to a general meeting at 3.30pm when Bupa Ireland managing director Martin O'Rourke made the announcement via a video link to much cheering and clapping from staff.

"We did our January renewals because the forms had gone out before the decision to withdraw from the Irish market, but after January we were expecting to be at risk of losing our jobs.

"Instead now we've got this great news. Quinn Group is an Irish company with a very good reputation and our aim is to continue offering the same quality of service. Tomorrow is the first day of spring and it's a great way to start the spring," she said.

Fermoy mayor Cllr Tim Carey said the town had been shocked when Bupa Ireland announced that it was withdrawing from the Irish market, but was delighted to learn that Quinn Group was taking over the operation. "It'll be the talk of the town tonight."

Michael Hanley, chairman of Fermoy Enterprise Board, said he had no inkling of the Quinn Group deal, but he had always been hopeful that some other company would take over the Bupa operation. "What it means, at the very least, as I understand, is retention of the status quo and hopefully a bright future going forward. It's a great boost in the midst of a particularly difficult time for Fermoy."