With reports that Siac Construction Limited was expected to enter examinership yesterday, Graham Sheehan stood protesting outside the gates of the group's headquarters in Clondalkin in Dublin.

Mr Sheehan said that his company, Sabre Electrical Services Limited, was owed a "substantial" amount of money from Siac for completing a lighting refurbishment on the M1 motorway.

Mr Sheehan, who had also parked his company vehicles in front of the Siac entrance, added that he has found it difficult to secure payment from the company since at least April of this year.

“I’ve been getting small bits, drips and drabs,” he said. “They’d send you a cheque and give you the impression they were doing you a favour”.

This is just one of several similar situations he and his company have found themselves in over the past few years.

“The subcontractors get crucified every time,” he said, adding that some of his 10 staff members may have to be laid off.

“I’ll be lucky if I can pay workers next week, I’ll be lucky if I have a wage next week,” he said. “Everything I have is tied up with this company”.

Chris Whorley, managing director of KC Civil Engineering, said that it’s a similar situation for his company.

“We’ve 45 lads, they’ll be out of work if we don’t get paid,” he said.

Mr Whorley said his company was owed €2.6 million for work carried out on the M1 motorway project, which included supplying machinery and up to 40 workers.

Both Mr Whorley and Mr Sheehan said that subcontractors should be paid by the client and not the main contractor.