The forced closure of a Co Donegal supermarket yesterday has caused much anger and prompted a number of business people in the region to talk about setting up their own political party entitled New Ireland.
Last month Ann and Danny Sweeney, owners of Ramsay's Stores in Dunfanaghy, were ordered by Dublin Circuit Court to close up shop or go to jail - following a two-year battle with Donegal County Council's planning department.
The closure of the coastal resort's only supermarket during the height of its tourist season has left 80 people without jobs, in an area blighted by unemployment.
Brian O'Domhnaill, chairman of the council's planning special policy committee, said he was "deeply saddened" that the store had to close.
"I endeavoured to do my utmost in pressing the planning department to pursue an extension to the closure date. Unfortunately this was not possible, and I very much regret that. I will be raising this issue and other planning issues pertaining to Dunfanaghy at a meeting of Donegal County Council on Monday."
Eunan Quinn, Milford and Glenties area manager of the council's planning and economic department, said yesterday: "Our position hasn't changed on the matter. The Sweeneys contravened a court order and planning decisions, and as a council we had little option but to seek a remedy to the situation through the courts."
Supermarket owner Ann Sweeney believes the people of Dunfanaghy have been "totally let down" by the council. "We're the biggest employer in this town, where well over 60 per cent of buildings are lying empty and derelict, but they're doing nothing to help us. This is what has spurred us and others on in the locality to start the New Ireland party."
Using the motto "clean up public service, clean up planning and clean up Donegal", she said the group would attempt to ensure that a better public service is provided by the council.
The Sweeneys insist that when they were informed that they were operating out of illegal premises they did everything to rectify the situation. "At this stage, it will be up to the Ombudsman to decide whether public service was delivered to Dunfanaghy or not. Ramsay's Stores have over 5,000 signatures so far supporting the maintaining of jobs and services in the town."
Georgina Sterritt, who has lived in Dunfanaghy for 34 years, thinks the closure of Dunfanaghy's only supermarket is absurd. "From a customer's point of view, I'm not saying I condone going against the law, but the situation here is crazy, just crazy. There was bound to be a way around it. I shop locally because I firmly believe we have to keep our villages alive, because if we don't the whole rural community is going to fall apart."