Firm said its programme would see the retention of one factory

Almost 500 jobs are set to go with the closure of three textiles factories in Northern Ireland.

Desmond & Sons said it was to shut down plants at Omagh in County Tyrone, Swatragh in County Londonderry and Irvinestown in County Fermanagh.

Desmonds, which employs almost 2,000 people in the province, makes clothes for Marks and Spencer.

The announcement comes just four months after the firm announced that more than 300 jobs were to go at two plants.

On Tuesday, the company said it was undertaking "a further planned reduction in its production capacity".

This would lead to the loss of 482 jobs, said a spokesman.

The company opened consultations with trade unions and informed its employees on Tuesday afternoon.

In order to compete for future orders the vast bulk of production will have to be fulfilled in our overseas factories Desmonds statement

The move means 229 redundancies in Omagh, where men's and women's trousers are manufactured, 130 redundancies in Swatragh, making pyjamas, and 115 in Irvinestown, where leisurewear is produced.

Desmonds is also expected to make five workers redundant at its Newbuildings factory in County Derry, with a further three losing their jobs at its Drumahoe plant.

The firm said its closure programme would see the retention of one factory in Northern Ireland, as well as its global headquarters and central warehousing function at Drumahoe.

'Work closely'

In a statement, the company said: "We recognise this will come as a deep shock to all our employees following only a few months after we ended production in Springtown and Dungiven.

Desmonds makes clothes for Marks and Spencer

"However, despite the great efforts of all our staff, we have been experiencing operating losses at the three factories and must take action to stay competitive.

"Consumer demand for clothes at value-for-money prices and pressures on margins coupled with increased insurance, energy and social costs mean that it is no longer possible to sustain large scale manufacturing operations in this country.

"Our competitors have long since ceased to do so. In order to compete for future orders the vast bulk of production will have to be fulfilled in our overseas factories.

"This has painful human consequences in Northern Ireland. We will work closely with employees and with statutory and other agencies to do our utmost to help them find alternative employment."

The company said had it not responded in this way it would have led inevitably to the demise of the business "to the greater economic detriment of Northern Ireland".

The retail business in the town, together with bars and restaurants, will also be hit as a result of this Tommy Gallagher SDLP

Desmonds provides employment for another 5,384 in its overseas joint venture factories and third party manufacturing units in Turkey, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

It is also a joint venture partner with Marks & Spencer in The Zip Project, which designs and sources children's wear for Marks & Spencer and employs 120 in Claudy, County Londonderry.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said the Desmonds' announcement was "a devastating blow".

"This is an area which should be addressed by local politicians in a local administration. I have little confidence in direct rule ministers having the focus or desire to grasp the issue of rural job losses and the decimation of the local textile industry," said the Mid Ulster MP.

The SDLP's Tommy Gallagher said the closure of the Irvinestown plant was another blow for the area.

"The employees and their families will now be very worried at being left without work," he said.

"The retail business in the town, together with bars and restaurants, will also be hit as a result of this."