SHOP workers in a majority nationalist Co Derry town who vowed to defy an order to close for Queen Elizabeth's funeral will have the backing of their local community.
The claim was made as a free food facility in Dungiven that had faced calls from a local Church of Ireland minister to close for the event last night said it intends to remain open next Monday.
Staff at SuperValu in the town are understood to have told management they will defy an order to halt work during the royal funeral.
Musgrave NI has said its "company owned SuperValu and Centra stores, along with Musgrave MarketPlace branches will close to customers" between 10.30am-1.30pm on Monday "as a mark of respect" to Queen Elizabeth.
In a fresh statement last night Musgrave NI said "company owned stores will close to customers from 10.30am until 1.30pm" on Monday.
“Our stores, while closed to customers, will remain operational,” it added.
A strongly nationalist town, Dungiven was home to Kevin Lynch, one of 10 republicans to die during the 1981 hunger strike. The area's hurling club is named after him.
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey last night said he has met staff members in recent days.
"They are adamant they want to remain open," he said.
The veteran republican added that SuperValu staff will have support in the area.
"A lot of local people will stand out with them," he said.
"I would ask Musgrave management to reconsider their decision and let local staff make their own decision."
Meanwhile, a free food facility in the town which has faced calls to close for the funeral said it intends to open as normal next Monday to "fulfil the needs of the community".
Rev Mark Loney, who is rector at Dungiven and Bovevagh Church of Ireland, wrote to Dungiven Regeneration Club (DRC) earlier this week.
It hosts the local 'Community Fridge', which encourages people to donate goods that are then redistributed.
In his email the minister added that it was "something of a sore point" that two local businesses, including SuperValu, do not intend to close.
Details of the email emerged after it was revealed that Rev Loney's wife, Jo, has also contacted two businesses in the town asking if they intended to shut.
In a statement last night a spokeswoman for DRC said the popular facility will be open as usual on Monday.
"People that use and need the Community Fridge have been making enquiries to make sure we are open on Monday," she said.
"We intend to fulfil the needs of the community."
Mr McGlinchey has previously said "people don't stop eating or needing help because it's a bank holiday".
