An agonising 78-day sit-in for staff at a midlands nursing home finally came to an end yesterday when they received more than €144,000 which was due to them.
Tullybeg Retirement Village, at Rahan, Co Offaly, closed at the end of June with the board of directors citing financial troubles.
The sit-in attracted national publicity, with the workers vowing to fight on until they got their wages, plus redundancy and holiday payments.
"It should have been sorted out within a few days of Tullybeg closing, and today we are just getting what is due to us," said Bridie Delaney, a spokeswoman for the staff at Tullybeg, after they received their money from the offices of a local solicitor yesterday.
"We are just relieved it's all over now, and we can get on with our lives," said Ms Delaney. Some staff had worked in Tullybeg for more than 10 years and have been unable to commit to new jobs until the Tullybeg sit-in was over.
Local TD and PD junior Minister Tom Parlon, who had helped to broker the deal, yesterday welcomed the settlement. "The staff showed great patience and determination, and they also showed dignity," he said.