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Belfast Primark fire: Jobs are safe, staff told Belfast Primark fire: Staff 'will be paid'
(about 2 hours later)
Staff at the Primark store in Belfast city centre, that was destroyed by a major fire, have said the company has told them their jobs are safe. Staff at the Primark store in Belfast city centre that was destroyed by a major fire will be paid this week but have not received certainty beyond that, a trade union has said.
Much of the interior of the historic Bank Buildings on Castle Street has collapsed after Tuesday's huge blaze. Much of the interior of the historic Bank Buildings on Castle Street has fallen in after Tuesday's huge blaze.
The fire service confirmed that engineers who inspected the five-storey building's exterior have said it is structurally intact. The fire service said that there was "still a risk" that the building could collapse "in all or in part".
Primark bosses met staff on Wednesday but have yet to confirm their plans.Primark bosses met staff on Wednesday but have yet to confirm their plans.
It is believed that more than 350 people worked at the store, which was undergoing a major refurbishment and extension that was estimated to cost £30m.It is believed that more than 350 people worked at the store, which was undergoing a major refurbishment and extension that was estimated to cost £30m.
The Usdaw trade union said it had a "very positive meeting" with Primark's management on Wednesday and was told that firm answers about workers' futures would be given next week.
"All options are being explored by management to retain their staff, to retain that loyalty and their service," said Usdaw's Michaela Lafferty.
"We don't have long-term answers - the company has a short-term solution and that is this week nobody has lost their job and everybody will receive their pay."
A 45m (148ft) police cordon is in place around the building.A 45m (148ft) police cordon is in place around the building.
Queen Street remains closed from Wellington Place to its junction with Castle Street, while Castle Street is closed from Queen Street to Royal Avenue.Queen Street remains closed from Wellington Place to its junction with Castle Street, while Castle Street is closed from Queen Street to Royal Avenue.
The fire started near the top of the listed building at about 11:00 BST on Tuesday. The fire started near the top of the listed five-storey building at about 11:00 BST on Tuesday.
Firefighters battled the flames throughout the day and overnight into Wednesday after the roof and floors collapsed.Firefighters battled the flames throughout the day and overnight into Wednesday after the roof and floors collapsed.
The fire was still burning on Wednesday morning and 30 firefighters remain at the site. The fire was still burning on Wednesday and 30 firefighters remain at the site.
No-one was injured in the blaze and it is not yet clear how it started.No-one was injured in the blaze and it is not yet clear how it started.
Structural engineers have inspected the building amid fears that it could collapse. Structural engineers have been inspecting the building amid fears that it could collapse.
Senior firefighter Aidan Jennings said the engineers would make a decision about the future of the building's famous sandstone facade.
"We've had significant collapse within that front part of the structure - steelwork and floors have come down - but at this stage the building still remains standing," he said.
"There is a significant amount of twisted steelwork and collapsed floors so the building does still remain at risk."
The extension to the rear of the building, which was nearing completion, has been saved.
Primark's staff deserved praise for getting people out of the store soon after the fire started, added Mr Jennings.
"They quickly evacuated the building - they allowed our crews to focus on the fire and were able to quickly confirm that everyone had left the building."
Belfast City Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss how it could help staff and other businesses affected by the fire.Belfast City Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss how it could help staff and other businesses affected by the fire.
Shops and offices that fall within the cordon remain closed, and another meeting is due to be held in the afternoon. Shops and offices that fall within the cordon remain closed.
Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey said the city needed to "rally round those who need support now".Belfast Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey said the city needed to "rally round those who need support now".
"Not only has this impacted on the Primark employees and the business itself but it will have a knock-on effect for neighbouring businesses and city centre retailers," she said."Not only has this impacted on the Primark employees and the business itself but it will have a knock-on effect for neighbouring businesses and city centre retailers," she said.
She added that the council was willing to help Primark "in any way we can should they wish to seek alternative accommodation" in the city centre.She added that the council was willing to help Primark "in any way we can should they wish to seek alternative accommodation" in the city centre.
Parts of the building are still collapsing and Alan O'Neill of the fire service said that had prevented firefighters getting access to the inside of the building. At the scene on Wednesday: BBC News NI's Karen Patterson
"We've been cooling from the outside but it is going to take a bit more time to get the fire out - we're likely to be there for the next couple of days," he said. Belfast woke up to an image as dramatic as those broadcast across the world last night of one of Belfast's most iconic buildings.
At the scene on Wednesday: BBC News NI presenter Karen Patterson
Belfast is waking up to an image as dramatic as those broadcast across the world last night of one of Belfast's most iconic buildings.
It is a very sorry sight - Bank Buildings is a shell and all of the floors have collapsed.It is a very sorry sight - Bank Buildings is a shell and all of the floors have collapsed.
As I stand at a cordon that stretches around the building there are real concerns about trading opportunities for businesses around the Castle Junction.As I stand at a cordon that stretches around the building there are real concerns about trading opportunities for businesses around the Castle Junction.
All buses operating in and out of the city centre on Wednesday will be subject to delays and diversions. All buses operating in and out of the city centre on Wednesday are subject to delays and diversions.
Some staff have spoken of their shock and concern about their futures.Some staff have spoken of their shock and concern about their futures.
Mary Flynn, from Glengormley in County Antrim, has worked for Primark since it first opened in Belfast city centre in 1975 at Queen's Arcade before moving to the Bank Buildings. Mary Flynn, from Glengormley in County Antrim, has worked for Primark since it opened in Belfast city centre in 1975 at Queen's Arcade before moving to Bank Buildings.
She said she was "devastated" to learn about the fire through a phonecall from her niece. She was "devastated" to learn about the fire through a phone call from her niece.
"When I heard I was so sad, so upset... but we're just so glad that all the staff and customers got out safely," she told BBC News NI."When I heard I was so sad, so upset... but we're just so glad that all the staff and customers got out safely," she told BBC News NI.
She described her workplace as "a fabulous store with fabulous people - it was like my second home".She described her workplace as "a fabulous store with fabulous people - it was like my second home".
Michaela Lafferty, from the Usdaw trade union, which represents staff at the Primark branch, said 100 more staff were due to be recruited. Some workers were left without their house keys after they had to leave their belongings in the building as the fire spread.
Some staff had been left without their house keys after they had to leave their belongings in the building as the fire spread, she told BC News NI.
"That workforce spanned across generations - we had some workers who had been there for 43 years - and it's a testament to the loyalty of the staff Primark had here," said Ms Lafferty.
"This absolutely was their home - this isn't just the workplace that's lost their place of work, this is a family that's lost their home."
What is the history of the building?What is the history of the building?
The original Bank Buildings was designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785.The original Bank Buildings was designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785.
WH Lynn designed the new Bank Buildings in 1900.WH Lynn designed the new Bank Buildings in 1900.
He intended it as a bridge to the 20th Century, with a compromise between the classical style of the upper part of the building and the great expanse of plate glass below.He intended it as a bridge to the 20th Century, with a compromise between the classical style of the upper part of the building and the great expanse of plate glass below.
Three bombs exploded in the Bank Buildings in 1975 - a huge fire broke out shortly afterwards and damaged parts of the building.Three bombs exploded in the Bank Buildings in 1975 - a huge fire broke out shortly afterwards and damaged parts of the building.
In 1979, the Bank Buildings was taken over by the Dublin-based group Primark and the store was totally refurbished and the exterior restored to its 1903 glory.In 1979, the Bank Buildings was taken over by the Dublin-based group Primark and the store was totally refurbished and the exterior restored to its 1903 glory.