Gardaí remain stationed around St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin this evening as negotiations aimed at ending the hunger strike by 41 Afghans, now in its sixth day, continue inside the church.
Some of the hunger strikers have threatened to kill themselves if any effort is made to remove them by force and calls have been made for the Taoiseach to intervene.
Three of the men have threatened to jump from the organ loft of the cathedral if attempts are made to remove them. "There are now some asylum seekers threatening to throw themselves off the organ loft," a church spokesman said. "We understand there are three of them.
"The gardai and the Health Services Executive staff are in the building and further legal options are being pursued to bring this to a conclusion
For these guys it's for real, it's not a bloody game in there
Rosanna Flynn, Residents Against Racism
The Health Service Executive today successfully applied to the High Court to have the seven minors among the hunger strikers made wards of court.
Up to 20 officers are in the church while Phil Flynn, often used as a troubleshooter by the Government in industrial disputes has been inside to speak to the hunger strikers. Mr Flynn has visited them several times in recent days and told reporters today his priority was to get the young men out of the cathedral.
It is believed at least six of the hunger strikers are under 18.
A spokeswoman for the Residents Against Racism group, Rosanna Flynn, who held discussions with the hunger strikers for three hours today made the call for Mr Ahern to intervene.
When she emerged this afternoon she told reporters she believed the men would take their own lives if forced to move. Ms Flynn said some of them had "light ropes" and it is believed some have razors.
Rosanna Flynn of Residents Against Racism at St Patrick's Cathedral today
"For these guys it's for real, it's not a bloody game in there," she said.
Some protesters have gathered at the Kevin St side of the Cathedral in what could be an attempt to block the road if gardaí try to remove any of the hunger strikers. A number of them carried placards urging support for the Afghan men and they are expected to protest outside the Minister for Justice's constituency office this evening.
Among those present at the Kevin St entrance to the cathedral this evening were Sinn Féin TD Daithí Doolan and Jim Monaghan, one of the so-called 'Colombia Three'. Mr Monaghan did not wish to make any comment on his presence.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed by one of the strikers that gardaí had given a 7pm deadline for the strike to end.
Some of the hunger strikers have reportedly threatened to kill themselves if any effort is made to remove them by force.
Up to 60 gardaí are stationed around the church entrances and a number of Garda vehicles are parked in the area. A Garda spokesman said that St Patrick's Close, which runs alongside the cathedral was closed in the early hours of the morning "for Garda operational reasons".
Jim Monaghan outside St Patrick's Cathedral this evening
Speaking to ireland.combefore he went in, Phil Flynn said he had visited the hunger strikers twice at their request and said they had again requested his presence via Garda channels this morning.
He said he believed the high-profile Garda presence outside the cathedral was only serving to heighten tensions. "I would only contact the justice department if I was authorised to do so and to date I have not been," he said.
A spokewoman for the Department of Justice refused to comment on the situation today.
Shortly after 11am a solicitor, Brian Burns, and a barrister, Paul O'Shea, also went into the cathedral but they emerged again apparently without progress early in the afternoon. They are believed to be acting on behalf of Residents Against Racism.
At least three ambulances have been at the scene and one man was taken away by ambulance this morning. A number of the men were taken to hospital earlier this week suffering from severe dehydration. Garda vans moved in and out of St Patrick's Close, next to the Cathedral, throughout the day. Protesters briefly attempted to block the exit of a Garda van to Kevin Street at around 4pm, believing some of the hunger strikers were in it - however, gardaí said this was not the case.
The hunger strikers have said they will continue with their action despite a request from Church of Ireland leaders to call off their protest. All of the men are taking water, but say that at present they will continue to go without food. They have been without food since Sunday.
Bishops of Armagh and Dublin, yesterday
The men have been living in different parts of Ireland for between one and five years. They are seeking leave to remain in the State, and say their action was precipitated by the recent rejection of several of their applications for refugee status.
A statement issued yesterday on behalf of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Dr Robin Eames, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Dr John Neill, and the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, the Very Rev Dr Robert McCarthy, called on them to end their hunger strike before matters deteriorate further.
"As Christians, we are deeply moved by the humanitarian plight of this group," it said. "We had hoped that Tuesday's meeting between representatives of the asylum seekers and the Department of Justice officials or yesterday's meeting with Mr Manuel Jordao, representing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, would have resulted in the opening of dialogue that could have led to a resolution. However, this was not so."
Samandar Khan (19), who has been acting as a spokesman for the group, said he walked away from the meeting with Mr Jordao because he could do nothing for them.
"He talked about the law. We are well aware of the law," he said. "He is a good man but not a man of authority. I said this meeting is finished."