A group of 41refugees occupied St. Patricks Cathedral after Sundays Cathedral Service. At least three minors are believed to be among the group of men. The group are seeking refugee status in Ireland and decided to hungerstrike after some of their applications were turned down last Friday by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Commissioner. Geen Party TD, Ciarán Cuffe has met some of the men and believes them to be genuine.
Until yesterday the men were also on 'water strike' some of them remain so.
The asylum seekers issued a statement to explain the reason for their drastic decision to go on hunger strike in St. Patricks Cathedral, it states very starkly and clearly the reason why they believe they should be allowed to stay:
We have been in Ireland for years and most of us have been suffering from mental and physical problems besides the mental and physical problems we had in Afghanistan. We want an answer from the Irish Government, Is it life in Ireland or death?
The latest news at 2.15 on the 17th of May is that one of the hunger strikers has fallen unconcious and 8 have been taken to hospital.Supporters are gathered outside the catherdral and there are a series of protests planned.