SIPTU members at Vita Cortex have reacted with disgust to the attack on their characters contained in a letter sent to the media by a director of the company.

In a letter sent to newspapers the company director and shareholder, Sean McHenry, accused the Vita Cortex workers of "blackmail designed to secure additional ex gratia [redundancy] payments from [the] personal funds of the directors".

The Cork businessman then went on to insult the workers many high profile backers, which include Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, former President Mary Robinson, American academic Noam Chomsky, folk singer Christy Moore, and former Irish international footballer Paul McGrath.

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McHenry stated that these public figures were "poorly informed" and had been "lulled into lending their names and support" to the Vita Cortex workers campaign to secure agreed redundancy terms.

Vita Cortex worker Cal O'Leary, who worked for the company for 44 years, said: "It is unbelievable that McHenry is accusing us of blackmail for simply campaigning for what we were promised. We worked loyally for his company and made him profits and this is how we are being repaid by being accused of blackmail for peacefully protesting for what we deserve."

SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar said McHenry's letter "marked a new low by the owners of a company which has shown total contempt for its former employees".

"In his letter McHenry claims that the company has honoured its obligations to the workers and state agencies. This is simply not true.This is the second letter from the McHenry family to the media that has contained falsehoods. McHenry and his family would be better served trying to bring a just resolution to this dispute than lowering themselves to making personal attacks against honest workers."

(CD)