Court hearing: Thirty-three Afghan hunger strikers were remanded on bail at a special four-hour sitting of Dublin District Court yesterday morning.
At an overnight sitting presided over by Judge James Paul McDonnell, the men, between 18 and 61, were all charged under section three of the Forcible Entry and Occupation Act 1971.
The court heard the men were arrested at St Patrick's Cathedral between 10pm and 10.45pm on Saturday, before being brought to Bridewell Garda station. Their arrests followed a seven-day hunger strike intended to put pressure on the Department of Justice to grant them political asylum. All were granted legal aid and interpreters were available.
Judge McDonnell instructed that the men be remanded on bail of €250 on condition they stay away from St Patrick's and stay at designated State-owned hostels in Dublin.
Haggard and pallid, the men left the court within minutes of being granted bail. Their cases are due for mention at Kilmainham District Court in Dublin on Thursday morning. Separately, a number of minors were taken into State care on Saturday night by the Health Service Executive. The hunger strikers were:
Habib Mobin (31), Old Convent, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; Abdel Hammad (32), Westbourne Hostel, Limerick; Ajmal Khan (31), South Circular Road, Dublin; Waheed Walizada (36), Atlas House, Tralee; Osman Hotak (27), Camden Hall, Dublin; Hamza Musazai (33), no fixed abode; Saleem Aseer (30), Ashe House, Tralee; Karim Azarbos (22), Westward Court, Tralee; Mohsin Ali Yawar (25), Atlas House, Tralee; Abdullah Jamali (31), Westward Court, Tralee; Muhammad Abas Jami (21), Atlas House, Tralee; Shahim Shaj (18), Atlas House, Tralee; Muhammad Husseni (27), Great Western House, Galway; John Sultani (29), Westward Court, Tralee; Reza Jafary (29), Atlas House, Tralee; Ahmad Shabir Yousofi (26), Atlas House, Tralee; Hamid Khan (22), Westbourne Hostel, Limerick; Amir Khan Nasari (29), Tralee; Ahmadyar Fahim (27), Atlas House, Tralee; Samandar Khan Oriyakhail (19), Atlas House, Tralee; Khalied Hossien (25), Kinsale Road, Cork; Ali Ameni (30), Glen Vera Hotel, Cork; Ahmad Ahmadi (24), Kinsale Road, Cork; Nazer Hosainy (32), Ashe House, Tralee; Shir Changizy (29), Atlas House, Tralee; Hakin Hashimi (61), Atlas House, Tralee; Abdul Shukur Kolesdoni (28), Atlas House, Tralee; Hashmat Habib (29), Dublin; Payman Ehsas (29), Dublin; Reza Lali (19), Great Western House, Galway; Saied Sabori (25), Westward Court, Tralee; Mohammad Zahir (27), Atlas House, Tralee; and Said Abrahim (36), Great Western House, Galway.