Latest news with #FPMcCann
ITV News
22-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
FP McCann secures apology and damages from Home Office over false illegal immigration worker claims
Northern Ireland construction firm FP McCann is to receive 'substantial' libel damages from the Home Office over false allegations of having illegal workers on one of its sites, the High Court has been apology was also issued to the Co Londonderry-based concrete supplier for wrongly stating that it was facing a fine of up to £225, proceedings centred on a press release issued in March 2024 following an immigration enforcement raid on a former paper mill in north the time the Home Office said 13 people working as subcontracted labourers and steel-fixers had been arrested in the press release wrongly indicated that FP McCann had been fined for employing some of the workers, before clarifying that a civil penalty referral notice was issued pending a review of was subsequently confirmed that no enforcement action would be taken against the McCann and its directors threatened libel action against the Home Office over the contents of the original court on Thursday it was announced that a settlement has been reached. Counsel for the firm, Peter Hopkins KC, read out an agreed statement of correction as part of the 'offer of amends'.He said: 'The press release stated that FP McCann Ltd had been fined up to £225,000 in civil penalties for illegally employing five contractors at a mill in north Wales. This allegation was erroneous and false.'The Home Office accepts that FP McCann's contractors were lawfully entitled to work the site in north Wales. FP McCann has therefore not been fined by the Home Office.'Mr Hopkins added: 'The Home Office apologises to FP McCann and its directors for publishing ther false and defamatory allegations, and has agreed to pay substantial damages, and reasonable legal costs, as a result of the publication of the erroneous press release.'Mr Justice Colton was told that the statement of apology will also be published on the Home Office's website under the terms of the outside court, the construction company's solicitor, Fergal McGoldrick, said: 'FP McCann is pleased to draw a line under this unsatisfactory matter following this morning's apology from the Home Office.'
Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Home Office issues apology to NI construction firm over ‘erroneous and false' allegation about illegal workers
It relates to a press release issued by the Home Office last year stating that FP McCann had been fined up to £225,000 for illegally employing five contractors at a mill in north Wales. The case stemmed from an immigration raid on the mill on March 19 last year that saw 13 workers arrested. The Home Office said at the time that south Derry-based concrete firm FP McCann was one of two companies that had been fined in connection with the raid. It subsequently clarified that the two firms had been referred for civil penalty notices. In April of last year, it emerged that FP McCann had been cleared of any wrongdoing in the case and had been issued with a 'no-action notice'. FP McCann threatened to take a libel claim against the Home Office over the original press release. At the time, a spokesperson for the firm said its lawyers had worked with the Home Office to address the 'damage' caused by erroneous press coverage based on incorrect Home Office information. The Home Office subsequently accepted the release containing false and defamatory allegations and made an offer of amends. As part of that offer, the Home Office agreed to publish an apology, which was read out at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday. 'On March 26, 2024, the Home Office issued a press release which contained false and defamatory allegations concerning FP McCann Limited,' the apology said. 'The press release stated that FP McCann Limited had been fined up to £225,000 in civil penalties for illegally employing five contractors at a mill in north Wales. 'This allegation was erroneous and false. The Home Office accepts that FP McCann's contractors were lawfully entitled to work the site in north Wales. FP McCann has therefore not been fined by the Home Office. 'The Home Office apologises to FP McCann Limited and its directors for publishing the false and defamatory allegations, and has agreed to pay it substantial damages, and its reasonable legal costs, as a result of the publication of the erroneous press release. 'My client is grateful to the court for the opportunity to make this statement in open court, and this statement concludes this matter on the part of FP McCann Limited and its directors.' FP McCann said it is 'pleased to draw a line under this unsatisfactory matter following this morning's apology from the Home Office'. The concrete firm is one of Northern Ireland's most profitable construction companies. In the year to December 31, 2024, its profit after tax rose from £47.2m to £52.4m. Over the course of the year, FP McCann employed an average of 1,673 people. News Catch Up - Thursday 22 May In a statement accompanying its accounts filed with Companies House, the firm's directors said: 'We have continued to invest in our facilities and people. 'We are confident this strategy will ensure the company will be able to capitalise on the growing demand from the construction industry to provide modular solutions to meet its needs in an environment of a declining skilled labour market.'
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
FP McCann: Home Office issues apology over immigration raid
The Home Office has issued a public apology and paid substantial damages to a County Londonderry manufacturing firm following an immigration enforcement raid on one of its work sites last March 2024, concrete supplier FP McCann was referred for a penalty of up to £225,000 for employing five illegal contractors on one of its sites in company was issued with civil penalty referral notice, pending a review of evidence from the site visit and company Home Office then issued a "no action notice" the following month, confirming the company was not liable for a civil penalty. At the High Court in Belfast on Thursday the Home Office issued an apology to FP McCann Limited and its directors for publishing "false and defamatory allegations" and agreed to pay it substantial damages, and its reasonable legal added that the Home Office accepts that FP McCann's contractors were "lawfully entitled to work the site in North Wales".In a statement, FP McCann said it was pleased to draw a line under this unsatisfactory matter following the apology from the Home Office.
