Protest escalates into threats of suicide

Tensions in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, where Afghan asylum seekers have been on hunger strike since last weekend, rose sharply throughout yesterday.

Early yesterday morning, one youth was taken to hospital after reportedly slashing his wrist with a razor blade. Then health authorities went to the High Court and had eight minors made wards of court. Attempts by mediators, including industrial relations consultant Phil Flynn, to broker a deal ended unsuccessfully.

Gardaí sealed off St Patrick's Close, outside the cathedral, and throughout the day there were rumours they would seek to remove the protesters.

The cathedral was occupied by 41 asylum seekers last Sunday. Apart from the youth who had slashed his wrists, three others were taken to hospital yesterday, leaving 37 still in the cathedral.

Last night, 11 of the men were occupying the organ loft and said they were prepared to kill themselves if gardaí made any attempt to remove them by force. All 37 were reported to be on hunger and thirst strike.

One of the group, Samander Khan (19), said they were very weak but were determined to carry on with their protest.

Mr Khan said permission to remain in Ireland was the only condition on which they would end their hunger strike.

He reported that the men on the organ loft had ropes and were threatening to hang themselves if the gardaí intervened.

He said six were adults and five were minors.

Mr Khan explained there was a Garda presence in the cathedral but that, as of late last evening, there were no talks going on with the authorities.

Earlier, another man in the group, Ali Amini, told reporters by telephone the situation was very bad and they were prepared to kill themselves. He said from the loft they could see up to a dozen gardaí beneath them.

There were unconfirmed reports last night that the men may have fashioned makeshift ropes from braid attached to seats in the cathedral.

Yesterday, Rosanna Flynn, of Residents Against Racism, who held discussions with the men, said that they were looking "very drawn and very ill".

"They are very tired. They chatted for a bit but you could see the strength draining out of them," she said.

Ms Flynn said that the younger men in the group were "very hyper". She added that the men were on the floor in sleeping bags or were sitting around in groups talking.

"Some of these guys have nooses around their neck and I believe that they are serious."

She said that she did not believe the ropes were particularly "heavy duty" but felt that there was also a real fear they had razor blades.

Ms Flynn called on the Taoiseach to intervene and said that the men had "lost faith in the system". "They say that there is no justice in Ireland."

A spokeswoman for the Church of Ireland said the dean of the cathedral, the Very Rev Dr Robert McCarthy, had pleaded with the men to end their protest.

Stephen Collins adds: Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said yesterday evening that the gardaí were engaged in a professional and careful programme of action to deal with the situation that existed at St Patrick's Cathedral.

He said it was up to the gardaí to use their own professional judgment in handling the situation. "I am not dictating the pace or the outcome," he said.

The Minister added that it was the wish of the Church of Ireland that the Afghan hunger strikers leave the cathedral.