There is continuing unrest in the Mount Trenchard direct provision centre outside Limerick where there have been tensions between management and residents.
Four men have been on hunger strike since Wednesday night. There have also been claims that gardaí removed one of the group after a disturbance was reported.
Hunger striker Sahir Altamimi, said yesterday that he had been in the system for 14 years and “can take no more”.
He currently shares a room with six other men and says depression is “a big problem” among residents.
The father of two said he was feeling ‘very weak’ but that he would continue his protest until the situation was resolved, or until he died.
Meanwhile seven asylum seekers including Mr Altamimi have formed a group called Foynes Asylum Seekers for Change to protest against the direct provision system and conditions at Mount Trenchard.
One of the members, Patrick Malilo, said there were serious maintenance problems within the centre and that food was being served that was “almost rotting”.
He claimed that people were “going mad” in there.
Mr Malilo and two other asylum seekers were transferred to other direct provision centres last week shortly after helping to organise a protest against management. The Reception and Integration Agency, which manages the direct provision system on behalf of the Department of Justice, said the transfers had been a response to residents' concerns.
There has been increasing disquiet about Mount Trenchard, located three miles outside Foynes, which was described by the Irish Refugee Council as one of the 'worst' in the system.