Penneys is closing all of its stores in Ireland and immediately laying off 5,000 staff, joining Arnotts and Brown Thomas among top retailers shutting their doors to combat the spread of coronavirus. It is understood that Penneys staff will be paid full wages for two weeks pending a review of the shutdown. Penneys' announcement came shortly after Brown Thomas and Arnotts closed all of their branches nationwide this evening. Their parent, the Selfridges Group, said it will continue to pay the wages of Brown Thomas and Arnotts staff during the indefinite closure. Expand Close The Grafton Street Brown Thomas Photo: Mark Condren / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp The Grafton Street Brown Thomas Photo: Mark CondrenAll shuttered are the flagship Arnotts store on Henry Street and Brown Thomas's Grafton Street store in Dublin; Brown Thomas branches in Cork, Limerick and Galway; and BT2 stores in Dundrum Town Centre and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

Source: Irish Independent March 18, 2020 18:41 UTC