FG WILSON, the American owned engineering firm, plans to axe a further 95 jobs in the North bringing the total jobs lost in Northern Ireland in a 72-hour period to nearly 500.

The company, which has been in business in the North since 1966, intends to seek voluntary redundancies across its three sites in Larne, Springvale and Monkstown.

It is the third round of job cuts by FG Wilson in recent months, more than 550 permanent and contract workers have been axed from its payroll since last December.

In a statement FG Wilson said it planned to consult with the trade union Unite on the proposed redundancies and directly with its employees.

We will explore ways to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies, which will include offering voluntary redundancy.

We regret this action is necessary, however, it is ultimately in the long-term interests of our business.

More than 200 workers also facing redundancy have staged protests at a former American-owned car components plant in west Belfast to highlight their plight. Visteon, which was placed in administration earlier this week, intends to axe a total of 560 jobs in the UK.

The west Belfast factory had been under threat of closure since 2005 but workers say they intend to remain on site until a rescue plan is formulated to save jobs or better redundancy packages are on the table.

Union representatives are also currently fighting to secure better redundancy packages for employees of the former Canadian telecommunications giant Nortel which also axed 87 jobs in Northern Ireland this week.

The Alliance Party’s Enterprise spokesperson Seán Neeson said the latest job losses by FG Wilson add up to a triple blow for the North’s economy. “This is yet more devastating news for the East Antrim area. Already this week we heard of jobs being lost at Nortel, now we have this terrible news at FG Wilson.”