"Wages are still unpaid, annual leave and sick pay is still owed, and redundancies are only now being processed" the Union reports.

After months of uncertainty and controversy, the final Iceland stores have closed in Ireland. According to The Journal, the stores in Blanchardstown, Portlaoise, Fingal, Limerick, and Shannon shut their doors unexpectedly yesterday, with staff reportedly being given just 15 minutes notice. An examiner was appointed in June in an attempt to rescue the company, to no avail.

"Worker were given no notice."

On Thursday September 7th, the Independent Workers' Union released the following statement on the sudden closures of the remaining five Iceland stores in the Republic of Ireland: "Today, all remaining Iceland Stores across the Republic of Ireland, have been closed. The workers were given no notice of closure, and were told via phone call to “vacate the premises and collect all personal belongings”. They have now been placed on “temporary” lay-off, alongside their colleagues who have also been on lay-off since these closures began. "It has been confirmed that the Examinership overseeing Metron Stores Ltd. has ceased, and by order of the High Court, JW Accountants have been appointed as the Liquidator of the company. Throughout this process, our members have been entirely disregarded and disrespected by the company, which has ignored requests from the IWU and the Examiner to honour basic entitlements. "Wages are still unpaid, annual leave and sick pay is still owed, and redundancies are only now being processed following weeks of bogus lay-off. "With the company now in liquidation, it has absconded all responsibility towards its workers, and has left the state-appointed liquidator to clear up its mess. It is clear that this has been the company’s intention for some time. This type of behaviour by employers in Ireland is entirely facilitated and encouraged by current legislation. "We will continue to engage with the Liquidator to insure that all monies owed to our members are paid in full." Header image via Getty READ ON: - Ballynahinch Castle to host residential photography workshops - Record number of Lamborghinis to convoy through Ireland next weekend - Murphy's ice-cream announces first international location to be based in China