Middleton and Cooper express 'shock and sadness' at Austins closure

FoylE DUP MLA Gary Middleton and local Sinn Fein Cllr Mickey Cooper have expressed their "shock and saddened" with the closure of Austins department store in Derry. Mr Middleton said store was not just an important local business, but was ”part of the fabric” of the city.

He added: “The business has served generations of people in the city and beyond, and I am saddened to hear that it has gone into liquidation.

“Some of the staff who work in the shop contacted me this morning when they arrived for work and found the shutters were down. It is obviously very distressing for them, particularly given they had no prior warning.

“If there is anything which can be done either to assist the company, and particularly to help those staff who face a very uncertain time, then I will do all in my power to help.”

Cllr Cooper said he was "sorry" to hear of the closure given the store's historic links with the city.

“I am sorry to hear the news today that Austin’s Department Store is to close given the history of the shop.

“Austins is the oldest independent departmental store in the world and has graced the Diamond in Derry since 1830 so it is sad that its doors have closed today. “It is important that the needs of the 53 staff remain a priority and that they get all their entitlements paid in full. “The famous building that is synonymous with Derry needs to remain a viable concern and I hope that the liquidators find a new tenant.”