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Haulage firm 'employed boy of 14' Haulage firm 'employed boy of 14'
(about 1 hour later)
A teenager has claimed that, at the age of 14, he worked nights at a now bankrupt County Antrim firm, before getting up for school the next day.A teenager has claimed that, at the age of 14, he worked nights at a now bankrupt County Antrim firm, before getting up for school the next day.
The police are investigating allegations that Reid Transport of Cloughmills was using child labour before it went into administration.The police are investigating allegations that Reid Transport of Cloughmills was using child labour before it went into administration.
The firm collapsed last week with the loss of 200 jobs.The firm collapsed last week with the loss of 200 jobs.
The youth, now 16, said he was working for the company late into the night, for up to five nights a week.The youth, now 16, said he was working for the company late into the night, for up to five nights a week.
"The money was great, but I was definitely tired," he told the BBC."The money was great, but I was definitely tired," he told the BBC.
The allegation came after redundant workers held a meeting in Cloughmills on Monday night to discuss their options. "I worked through it, I still stuck to school."
Afterwards, a union spokesman described the situation at Reid's as "bleak". The teenager said initially he was doing two nights a week, but then, after eight to nine months, he was working four or five nights a week.
Earlier on Monday, North Antrim MLA Daithi McKay of Sinn Fein claimed in the assembly that children as young as 14 were working night shifts at the beleaguered haulage firm. "I enjoyed my work, I got up for school, I managed.
I was just brought in, I did the work, I got paid Teenager
"Nothing was ever said. I was just brought in, I did the work, I got paid, that was it. No-one ever questioned me."
The allegation was made after North Antrim MLA Daithi McKay of Sinn Fein claimed in the assembly that children as young as 14 were working night shifts at the beleaguered haulage firm.
He said sacked workers on the picket line told him some employees had been working more than 70 hours a week.He said sacked workers on the picket line told him some employees had been working more than 70 hours a week.
Blockade
Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey said he had already referred the most serious allegations to the police.Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey said he had already referred the most serious allegations to the police.
Meanwhile, administrators say owed wages will be paid before Christmas. Barrister Jill Brown, an expert in employment law, said children aged between 14 and 16 were only allowed to work very restricted hours.
"It does happen quite regularly that children are employed... beyond the hours that they are supposed to be," she said.
Blockade
Meanwhile, redundant workers held a meeting in Cloughmills on Monday night to discuss their options.
Afterwards, a union spokesman described the situation at Reid's as "bleak".
In a separate development, administrators say wages owed will be paid before Christmas.
Sir Reg said back-pay would be available to those entitled to it, at a rate of just over £300 a week.Sir Reg said back-pay would be available to those entitled to it, at a rate of just over £300 a week.
Garth Calow of administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers has called for a blockade to end so that lorries can return to the yard at Cloughmills.
Some trucks have been abandoned at the roadside in England and not all have been accounted for.
Mr Calow said his company had begun an investigation into the reasons why Reid Transport collapsed.
Directors of the company, Liam and Shaun Reid, have not been seen by the workers or the administrators.Directors of the company, Liam and Shaun Reid, have not been seen by the workers or the administrators.