Mediahuis said on Tuesday (27 September) that the group now intends to contract the printing of its Republic of Ireland-based publications to third-party providers such as the Irish Times Group.

The Newry site, which employed around 50 full-time staff and contractors, will be vacated before January 2023. 

The site's machinery, including a double-width coldset and heatset Goss Flexible Printing System and two folders, will be decommissioned or disposed of after a 30-day consultation process with impacted employees and their union representatives.

The company’s Northern Irish publications, including The Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, will continue to be printed by Interpress, sister company to the Belfast-based Irish News newspaper.

The closure comes as part of a broader strategy to focus resources on the company’s “core publishing expertise”, it said in a statement.

Wednesday’s statement also included the announcement of the closure of the County Dublin paper The Fingal Independent, and the company’s intention to launch an online alternative to serve the paper’s audience.

The transition to digital media has been a priority for Mediahuis in recent years, with its CEO Gert Ysebaert declaring in 2021 that during the pandemic “Mediahuis managed to make the switch from being a print company with digital expertise to a digital company that also makes exceptionally strong print media”.

In its 27 September statement, Mediahuis said: “We appreciate the impact of both of these announcements on those employees directly involved, which includes a number of highly qualified and experienced printing, mechanical and electrical specialists and members of our talented publishing team. 

“We will commence a period of consultation and engagement to ensure that these employees are fully supported throughout the process, and we will do our utmost to communicate transparently and to manage the transition as efficiently as possible.”

Mediahuis acquired INM in 2019 for €146m (£126m).